Plan on about 13 h 37 min of driving for the 508-mile (817 km) trip from Chulumani to Ollantaytambo, 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: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 508 mi (817 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | F25 → F3 → F41 → F1 → PE-3S → PE-28B |
| Border crossing | about mile 140, Bolivia → Peru (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Ollantaytambo
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 Ollantaytambo drive plays out
PE-3S (313 mi) and F1 (61 mi) carry about 74% of the 508 miles. The first 140 miles are in Bolivia; the last 368 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.
Chulumani to Ollantaytambo: the road sequence
| 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 | 140–453 | 313 | Puno, Cusco |
| PE-28B | 453–507 | 54 | Cusco |
| local roads | 507–508 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 140 of this route: La Paz → Puno (international border)
- Mile 362 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
What to see on the way from Chulumani to Ollantaytambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pumapunku (mile 112), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 224), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 232), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 297), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 378), Rumicolca (mile 451)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area (mile 40)
- Museums and history: Pre-Columbian Precious Metals Museum (mile 75), Pumapunku (mile 112), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 224), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 232), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 297), Rumicolca (mile 451), Huchuy Qosqo (mile 480)
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.
Pre-Columbian Precious Metals Museum
Opened in 1984, the Pre-Columbian Precious Metals Museum is a museum in the city of La Paz, Bolivia.
Pumapunku
Near Tiwanaku, Pumapunku is a 6th-century T-shaped terraced platform mound with a sunken court, part of the Tiwanaku archaeological complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno
On Puno's Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo was built between 1669 and 1757, with a mestizo Baroque stone facade blending Andean and European art.
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.
Rumicolca
Rumicolca is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco Region, found in Lucre District of Quispicanchi Province.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca archaeological site north of Cusco whose Quechua name means "Little Cusco."
Once you reach Ollantaytambo
Sitio arqueológico de Raqaypata
Raqaypata is an archaeological site at the top of the Perolniyoc waterfall, at about 3,560 meters above sea level.
Inkapintay
Near Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Inkapintay is an archaeological site with a rock painting; its Quechua name means "Inka painting."
Ñaupa Iglesia
Near Ollantaytambo, Ñaupa Iglesia is an Inca archaeological site regarded as a huaca and astronomical observatory, where imperial stonework blends with natural rock formations.
More drives to Ollantaytambo
- Abancay to Ollantaytambo
- Andahuaylas to Ollantaytambo
- Ayacucho, Peru to Ollantaytambo
- Nazca to Ollantaytambo
- Huancavelica to Ollantaytambo
- Ica to Ollantaytambo
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 does it take to drive from Chulumani to Ollantaytambo, Peru?
About 13 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 508 miles.
How far is Ollantaytambo, Peru from Chulumani by car?
About 508 miles (817 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 Ollantaytambo 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Chulumani to Ollantaytambo drive?
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 Ollantaytambo use?
In order: F25, F3, F41, F1, PE-3S and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chulumani and Ollantaytambo?
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); Rumicolca (archaeological site, mile 451, 0.1 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.