The Wayro route from Chinchero to Tiwanaku, Bolivia is 385 miles (619 km), about 11 h 33 min of driving without stops. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 356, at Desaguadero.
Full advisory: Peru, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance by road | 385 mi (619 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28F → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B → F1 |
| Border crossing | about mile 356, Peru → Bolivia (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 356, at Desaguadero, from Puno into La Paz. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Chinchero–Tiwanaku drive in a few lines
PE-3S (298 mi) and F1 (27 mi) carry about 84% of the 385 miles. The first 356 miles are in Peru; the last 29 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chinchero to Tiwanaku, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 1–12 | 11 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 12–19 | 7 | Cusco |
| local roads | 19–29 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 29–194 | 165 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 194–197 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 197–201 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 201–208 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 208–221 | 13 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 221–257 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 257–265 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 265–355 | 90 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 355–356 | 1 | Puno |
| F1 | 356–383 | 27 | La Paz |
| local roads | 383–385 | 2 | La Paz |
- Mile 131 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 356 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chinchero and Tiwanaku
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Raqch'i (mile 94), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 194), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 236), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 263), Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito (mile 274)
- Museums and history: Qenko (mile 20), Raqch'i (mile 94), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 194), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 263)
Qenko
About 6 km northeast of Cusco and east of Sacsayhuamán, Qenko (Q'enqo) is an archaeological site declared Cultural Heritage of the Cusco Region.
Raqch'i
Raqch'i, in the Vilcanota valley of Cusco's Canchis province, preserves the Inca temple of Wiracocha, about 92 meters long, along with ceremonial spaces and 156 qolqas, or storehouses, built partly of volcanic stone.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito
On the shore of Lake Titicaca in Chucuito, Puno, the Benedictine Monastery of the Resurrection belongs to the Order of Saint Benedict and is described as the highest Catholic monastery in the world, at 3,870 meters.
Once you reach Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku
Near Lake Titicaca, about 70 km from La Paz, Tiwanaku is a pre-Columbian archaeological site whose surface remains cover around 4 square kilometers, with monumental structures, megalithic blocks and decorated ceramics.
Akapana
At the pre-Columbian site of Tiwanaku in Bolivia's La Paz department, Akapana is an artificial platform mound built in seven levels held by carved sandstone walls.
Kalasasaya
Part of the Tiwanaku complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Bolivia, the Kalasasaya is a low platform mound with a large courtyard enclosed by high stone walls.
More drives to Tiwanaku
- Coroico to Tiwanaku
- Chulumani to Tiwanaku
- San Borja to Tiwanaku
- Rurrenabaque to Tiwanaku
- Llallagua to Tiwanaku
- Quillacollo to Tiwanaku
More drives from Chinchero
- Chinchero to Mollepata
- Chinchero to Cachora
- Chinchero to Huacachina
- Chinchero to Paracas
- Chinchero to Andahuaylillas
- Chinchero to Lampa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chinchero to Tiwanaku, Bolivia?
About 11 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
How far is Tiwanaku, Bolivia from Chinchero by car?
About 385 miles (619 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Chinchero to Tiwanaku drive cross the border?
At about mile 356, from Peru into Bolivia, at Desaguadero.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chinchero into Bolivia?
No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Chinchero to Tiwanaku drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chinchero to Tiwanaku?
In order: PE-28F, PE-3S, PU-117, PE-34B and F1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chinchero to Tiwanaku?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 194, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 236, 0.2 mi from the route); Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito (monastery, mile 274, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.