By road, Kiteni and Copacabana, Bolivia are about 508 miles (817 km) apart, or roughly 15 h 38 min of driving. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 501, at Kasani.
Full advisory: Peru, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
- Bolivia: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
| Distance by road | 508 mi (817 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 15 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → CU-105 → CU-772 → CU-593 → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 501, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Peru into Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 501, at Kasani, from Puno into La Paz. 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 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. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Kiteni to Copacabana drive plays out
PE-3S (259 mi) and PE-28B (83 mi) carry about 67% of the 508 miles. The first 501 miles are in Peru; the last 7 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Kiteni to Copacabana
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–53 | 53 | Cusco |
| CU-105 | 53–58 | 5 | Cusco |
| CU-772 | 58–71 | 13 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Cusco |
| CU-105 | 72–118 | 46 | Cusco |
| CU-593 | 118–150 | 32 | Cusco |
| CU-105 | 150–165 | 15 | Cusco |
| PE-28B | 165–195 | 30 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 195–351 | 156 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 351–354 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 354–358 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 358–365 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 365–377 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 377–413 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 413–421 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 421–488 | 67 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 488–501 | 13 | Puno |
| F2 | 501–507 | 6 | La Paz |
| local roads | 507–508 | 1 | La Paz |
- Mile 287 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 501 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Kiteni and Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 169), Raqch'i (mile 250), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 331), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 393), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 419)
- Museums and history: Inkariy Museum (mile 165), Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 169), Inca complex at Písac (mile 176), Raqch'i (mile 250), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 331), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 419), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 500)
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
Intiyuq K'uchu
Rock paintings mark Intiyuq K'uchu, an archaeological site in Lamay District of Calca Province in the Cusco Region.
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Inca complex at Písac
Along a mountain ridge above the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley, this Inca complex has agricultural terraces, residences, watchtowers and a ceremonial center, protected as a national archaeological park since 1983.
Raqch'i
Raqch'i, in the Vilcanota valley of Cusco's Canchis province, preserves the Inca temple of Wiracocha, about 92 meters long, along with ceremonial spaces and 156 qolqas, or storehouses, built partly of volcanic stone.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Facing Ayaviri's main square, the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is an Andean Baroque church more than three centuries old. Look for its columned facade and 18th-century religious paintings by Isidoro Francisco de Moncada.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
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.
Intini Uyu Pata
Sitting at about 3,867 meters in Peru's Puno Region, Intini Uyu Pata (Inti Uyu) is an archaeological site between the Ollaraya and Unicachi districts of Yunguyo Province.
Arriving in Copacabana
Pachat'aqa
Close to Lake Titicaca in the municipality of Copacabana, Pachat'aqa, often called the Inca Gallows, is a pre-Inca astronomical observatory built as a lintel of two parallel stone blocks.
Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
In the town of Copacabana, the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana is a 17th-century Catholic shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Candles of Copacabana, patroness of Bolivia.
More drives to Copacabana
- Arequipa to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Cusco to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Juliaca to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Andahuaylas to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Abancay to Copacabana, Bolivia
More drives from Kiteni
- Kiteni to Paracas
- Kiteni to Lampa
- Kiteni to Desaguadero
- Kiteni to Tiwanaku, Bolivia
- Kiteni to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Kiteni to Yumani, Bolivia
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Kiteni to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 15 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 508 miles.
What is the driving distance from Kiteni to Copacabana, Bolivia?
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 Kiteni to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 501, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Kiteni 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 Kiteni to Copacabana drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Kiteni to Copacabana use?
In order: PE-28B, CU-105, CU-772, CU-593, PE-3S, PU-117, PE-34B, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Kiteni and Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Intiyuq K'uchu (archaeological site, mile 169, 0.1 mi from the route); Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 331, 0.3 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 393, 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.