By road, Corumbá and Samaipata, Bolivia are about 482 miles (775 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 49 min of driving. You cross from Brazil into Bolivia at about mile 6.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Bolivia and Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance | 482 mi (775 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F7 |
| Border crossing | about mile 6, Brazil → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 6, from Mato Grosso do Sul into Santa Cruz. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Corumbá to Samaipata is like
F4 (396 mi) and F7 (66 mi) carry about 96% of the 482 miles. The first 6 miles are in Brazil; the last 476 are in Bolivia. It runs through 2 regions: Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Corumbá and Samaipata
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| F4 | 4–235 | 231 | Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz |
| connecting roads | 235–236 | 1 | Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 236–239 | 3 | Santa Cruz |
| F4 | 239–404 | 165 | Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 404–416 | 12 | Santa Cruz |
| F7 | 416–482 | 66 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 6 of this route: Mato Grosso do Sul → Santa Cruz (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Samaipata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario Mariano de la Torre (mile 180), Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (mile 398)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (mile 398), Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (mile 406), Curichi La Madre (mile 410)
- Museums and history: Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja (mile 236), Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (mile 406), Museo Artecampo (mile 410)
- With kids: Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana (mile 404)
Santuario Mariano de la Torre
Also called the Chochís Sanctuary, this shrine to the Virgin of the Assumption stands 2 km from the village of Chochís in Roboré municipality, about 80 km east of San José de Chiquitos.
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.
Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
The municipal botanical garden of Santa Cruz de la Sierra covers 217 hectares within the city.
Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana
Santa Cruz de la Sierra's municipal zoo, named for Noel Kempff Mercado, focuses on South American wildlife and is one of the city's tourist attractions, with many native species.
Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado
Part of the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno in Santa Cruz, the Noel Kempff Mercado Natural History Museum is a research center for biodiversity conservation in Bolivia.
Curichi La Madre
Officially a municipal protected area, Curichi La Madre is a wetland within the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in eastern Bolivia.
Museo Artecampo
In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Museo Artecampo showcases Indigenous and folk art from Bolivia's lowlands. It is a project of a cooperative center for research, craft design and marketing.
Arriving in Samaipata
El Fuerte de Samaipata
El Fuerte de Samaipata is a pre-Columbian archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Andean foothills of Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia.
More drives to Samaipata
- Quillacollo to Samaipata
- Villa Tunari to Samaipata
- Potosí to Samaipata
- Llallagua to Samaipata
- Trinidad, Bolivia to Samaipata
- Uyuni to Samaipata
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Corumbá to Samaipata, Bolivia?
About 11 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 482 miles.
How far is Samaipata, Bolivia from Corumbá by car?
About 482 miles (775 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 Corumbá to Samaipata drive cross the border?
At about mile 6, from Brazil into Bolivia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Corumbá into Bolivia?
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. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Corumbá to Samaipata drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Corumbá to Samaipata use?
In order: F4 and F7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Corumbá and Samaipata?
Closest to the road: Santuario Mariano de la Torre (shrine, mile 180, 0.9 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (botanical garden, mile 398, 0.4 mi from the route); Curichi La Madre (park, mile 410, 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.