Plan on about 13 h 9 min of driving for the 492-mile (791 km) trip from Chulumani to Chinchero, Peru, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Peru at about mile 140, at Desaguadero.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Peru. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 492 mi (791 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | F25 → F3 → F41 → F1 → PE-3S → PE-28F |
| Border crossing | about mile 140, Bolivia → Peru (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Bolivia–Peru border
The route crosses at about mile 140, at Desaguadero, from La Paz into Puno. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Chulumani to Chinchero drive plays out
PE-3S (330 mi) and F1 (61 mi) carry about 79% of the 492 miles. The first 140 miles are in Bolivia; the last 352 are in Peru. It runs through 3 regions: La Paz, Puno, Cusco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chulumani and Chinchero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | La Paz |
| F25 | 1–45 | 44 | La Paz |
| F3 | 45–58 | 13 | La Paz |
| F41 | 58–77 | 19 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 77–78 | 1 | La Paz |
| F1 | 78–139 | 61 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 139–140 | 1 | La Paz |
| PE-3S | 140–463 | 323 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 463–471 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 471–473 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 473–480 | 7 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 480–491 | 11 | Cusco |
| local roads | 491–492 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 140 of this route: La Paz → Puno (international border)
- Mile 362 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
Stops between Chulumani and Chinchero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Molloko (mile 208), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 224), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 297), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 378), Raqch'i (mile 397), Colcampata (mile 472)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area (mile 40)
- Museums and history: Museo costumbrista Juan de Vargas (mile 75), Molloko (mile 208), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 224), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 297), Raqch'i (mile 397), Colcampata (mile 472)
Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area
Cotapata covers the north face of the Cordillera Real in the La Paz Yungas, about 20 km north of La Paz. The pre-Hispanic Choro Trail, still stone-paved in places, descends through it from near La Cumbre pass to the village of Chairo.
Museo costumbrista Juan de Vargas
Facing Plaza Riosinho on Avenida Sucre in La Paz, the Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas shows works on the history, customs and traditions of La Paz across two floors, plus temporary exhibitions.
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.
Molloko
Molloko is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, about 5 kilometers south of the town of Acora, near the village of Molloco.
Inka Tunuwiri
Inka Tunuwiri is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, located between the Chucuito and Puno districts, southeast of the village of Ichu.
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.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
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.
Colcampata
Colcampata is an archaeological site in Cusco District, Cusco Province; its Quechua name combines words for a storehouse and an elevated place.
When you get to Chinchero
Lake Piuray
Lake Piuray (Laguna Piuray) lies in the Chinchero district of Cusco, in the Vilcanota range. Its deep blue water is fed by several streams, including the Pongobamba and Huila Huila.
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
More drives to Chinchero
- Písac to Chinchero
- Abancay to Chinchero
- Andahuaylas to Chinchero
- Ayacucho, Peru to Chinchero
- Nazca to Chinchero
- Ica to Chinchero
More drives from Chulumani
- Chulumani to Tiwanaku
- Chulumani to Challapata
- Chulumani to Tarata
- Chulumani to Tarabuco
- Chulumani to Atocha
- Chulumani to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chulumani to Chinchero, Peru?
About 13 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
How far is Chinchero, Peru from Chulumani by car?
About 492 miles (791 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 Chulumani to Chinchero drive cross the border?
At about mile 140, from Bolivia into Peru, at Desaguadero.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chulumani into Peru?
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. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Chulumani to Chinchero, Peru?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chulumani to Chinchero use?
In order: F25, F3, F41, F1, PE-3S and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chulumani to Chinchero?
Closest to the road: Inka Tunuwiri (archaeological site, mile 224, 0.2 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 297, 0.2 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 397, 0.5 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.