Plan on about 12 h 52 min of driving for the 491-mile (790 km) trip from Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 490, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Argentina. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Argentina July 10, 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.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 491 mi (790 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | F7 → F23 → F5 → F14 |
| Border crossing | about mile 490, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing from Bolivia into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 490, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Potosí into Jujuy. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| 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 Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Cochabamba to La Quiaca drive plays out
F14 (177 mi) and F5 (158 mi) carry about 68% of the 491 miles. The first 490 miles are in Bolivia; the last 1 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Jujuy. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cochabamba and La Quiaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Cochabamba |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Cochabamba |
| F7 | 6–26 | 20 | Cochabamba |
| local roads | 26–30 | 4 | Cochabamba |
| F23 | 30–119 | 89 | Cochabamba |
| F5 | 119–277 | 158 | Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí |
| local roads | 277–311 | 34 | Potosí |
| F14 | 311–488 | 177 | Potosí |
| local roads | 488–491 | 3 | Potosí, Jujuy |
- Mile 152 of this route: Cochabamba → Chuquisaca (region line)
- Mile 235 of this route: Chuquisaca → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 490 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
Stops between Cochabamba and La Quiaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Cretácico (mile 201), Metropolitan Cathedral of Sucre (mile 206), Palacete del Guereo (mile 206), La Glorieta castle (mile 209), Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 481)
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco (mile 18), Parque Cretácico (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of Sucre (mile 206), Palacete del Guereo (mile 206), La Glorieta castle (mile 209)
Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco
Known for its leafy, old carob trees, the Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco is a municipal protected area in Arbieto, Cochabamba, where the traditional Wallunk'a and Mast'aku celebrations take place.
Parque Cretácico
Dinosaur models fill Parque Cretácico, a theme park in Sucre with a viewpoint over Cal Orcko, a 70-meter-high, 1-km-long rock face bearing thousands of Late Cretaceous dinosaur footprints.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Sucre
Sucre's Metropolitan Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, was built between 1559 and 1712 in the city once known as La Plata.
Palacete del Guereo
Part of Bolivia's cultural heritage, the Palacete del Guereo hosts cultural activities in the historic city of Sucre, a World Heritage city.
La Glorieta castle
On the outskirts of Sucre, La Glorieta castle is a Bolivian national monument that was the seat of the principality of La Glorieta, founded by Clotilde Urioste and Francisco Argandoña Revilla.
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
More drives to La Quiaca
- Catamarca to La Quiaca
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina
- La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Oruro to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Quillacollo to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Villa Tunari to La Quiaca, Argentina
More drives from Cochabamba
- Cochabamba to Challapata
- Cochabamba to Coroico
- Cochabamba to Chulumani
- Cochabamba to San Borja
- Cochabamba to Rurrenabaque
- Cochabamba to San Ignacio de Moxos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 12 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 491 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 491 miles (790 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 Cochabamba to La Quiaca drive cross the border?
At about mile 490, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Cochabamba into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cochabamba to La Quiaca use?
In order: F7, F23, F5 and F14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cochabamba to La Quiaca?
Closest to the road: Parque Cretácico (park, mile 201, 0.2 mi from the route); Metropolitan Cathedral of Sucre (basilica, mile 206, 0.2 mi from the route); La Glorieta castle (museum, mile 209, 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.