Plan on about 12 h 6 min of driving for the 461-mile (742 km) trip from Cochabamba to Tarija, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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 by road | 461 mi (742 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | F7 → F23 → F5 → F1 |
| Departments on the route | Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Tarija |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Cochabamba to Tarija is like
F5 (142 mi) and F1 (136 mi) carry about 60% of the 461 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Tarija. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cochabamba to Tarija, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 119–261 | 142 | Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí |
| local roads | 261–323 | 62 | Potosí, Chuquisaca |
| F1 | 323–459 | 136 | Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| local roads | 459–461 | 2 | Tarija |
- Mile 152 of this route: Cochabamba → Chuquisaca (department line)
- Mile 235 of this route: Chuquisaca → Potosí (department line)
- Mile 303 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (department line)
- Mile 404 of this route: Chuquisaca → Tarija (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Tarija
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Cretácico (mile 201), Convento de San Felipe de Neri (mile 206), Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR (mile 206), La Glorieta castle (mile 209)
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco (mile 18), Parque Cretácico (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR (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.
Convento de San Felipe de Neri
Built in the 18th century, the Convento de San Felipe de Neri in Sucre has terraces among tiled domes and bell towers that look out over the city's many colonial churches.
Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR
In Sucre, the Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR is a cultural center run by the ASUR Foundation, devoted to preserving, exhibiting and promoting the art and culture of Bolivia's Indigenous communities.
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.
When you get to Tarija
Catedral de San Bernardo
Also called the Metropolitan Cathedral of Tarija, the Catedral de San Bernardo is the city's main Catholic church, near Plaza Luis de Fuentes in southern Bolivia.
Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija
One block from Plaza Luis de Fuentes y Vargas, Tarija's paleontological and archaeological museum opened in 1959 and is run by the Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho.
More drives to Tarija
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 Tarija?
About 12 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 461 miles.
How far is Tarija from Cochabamba by car?
About 461 miles (742 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cochabamba to Tarija drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cochabamba to Tarija?
In order: F7, F23, F5 and F1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cochabamba to Tarija?
Closest to the road: Parque Cretácico (park, mile 201, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento de San Felipe de Neri (convent, mile 206, 0.1 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.