By road, Cochabamba and San Rafael de Velasco are about 536 miles (862 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 35 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Bolivia: Chapare Province.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Bolivia. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance | 536 mi (862 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F17 |
| Departments on the route | Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco
F4 (439 mi) and F17 (78 mi) carry about 96% of the 536 miles. It runs through 2 departments: Cochabamba, Santa Cruz. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cochabamba |
| F4 | 1–162 | 161 | Cochabamba |
| local roads | 162–165 | 3 | Cochabamba |
| F4 | 165–209 | 44 | Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 209–213 | 4 | Santa Cruz |
| F4 | 213–283 | 70 | Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 283–293 | 10 | Santa Cruz |
| F4 | 293–457 | 164 | Santa Cruz |
| F17 | 457–535 | 78 | Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 535–536 | 1 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 180 of this route: Cochabamba → Santa Cruz (department line)
Stops between Cochabamba and San Rafael de Velasco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (mile 295)
- Nature and outdoors: Piraí River Ecological Protection Park (mile 288), Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (mile 295)
- Museums and history: Inkachaka (mile 52), Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja (mile 455)
Inkachaka
Inkachaka (Inka Chaka) is an archaeological site in Bolivia's Cochabamba Department, within the Colomi Municipality of Chapare Province.
Piraí River Ecological Protection Park
Along the banks of the Piraí River, this protected park preserves natural areas and helps shield Santa Cruz de la Sierra from river floods.
Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
The municipal botanical garden of Santa Cruz de la Sierra covers 217 hectares within the city.
Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja
About 3 km south of San José de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz la Vieja is a historic national park protecting archaeological, historical, and natural features.
More drives to San Rafael de Velasco
- Villa Tunari to San Rafael de Velasco
- Quillacollo to San Rafael de Velasco
- Sucre to San Rafael de Velasco
From Cochabamba to other places in Bolivia
- 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 does it take to drive from Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco?
About 13 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
How far is San Rafael de Velasco from Cochabamba by car?
About 536 miles (862 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.
Is it safe to drive from Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Bolivia: Chapare Province). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco?
In order: F4 and F17. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cochabamba to San Rafael de Velasco?
Closest to the road: Inkachaka (archaeological site, mile 52, 2 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (botanical garden, mile 295, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja (archaeological site, mile 455, 3 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.