Plan on about 14 h 49 min of driving for the 528-mile (850 km) trip from La Paz, Bolivia to Abancay, Peru, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Peru at about mile 67, at Desaguadero.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
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, Peru. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Total distance | 528 mi (850 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 → PE-3S → CU-606 |
| Border crossing | about mile 67, Bolivia → Peru (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Bolivia into Peru
The route crosses at about mile 67, at Desaguadero, from La Paz into Puno. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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 Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from La Paz to Abancay
PE-3S (415 mi) and F1 (60 mi) carry about 90% of the 528 miles. The first 67 miles are in Bolivia; the last 461 are in Peru. It runs through 4 regions: La Paz, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Paz to Abancay, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | La Paz |
| F1 | 6–66 | 60 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 66–68 | 2 | La Paz, Puno |
| PE-3S | 68–390 | 322 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 390–398 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 398–401 | 3 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 401–427 | 26 | Cusco |
| local roads | 427–432 | 5 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 432–450 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 450–459 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 459–526 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| local roads | 526–528 | 2 | Apurímac |
- Mile 67 of this route: La Paz → Puno (international border)
- Mile 289 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 473 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
What to see on the way from La Paz to Abancay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 160), Pucará (mile 224), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 245), Raqch'i (mile 325), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 400), Sayhuite (mile 502)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 160), Pucará (mile 224), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 245), Raqch'i (mile 325), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 400), Chakan (mile 403), Tampukancha (mile 423), Sayhuite (mile 502)
Tiwanaku
Near Lake Titicaca, about 70 km from La Paz, Tiwanaku is a pre-Columbian archaeological site whose surface remains cover around 4 square kilometers, with monumental structures, megalithic blocks and decorated ceramics.
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.
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
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.
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.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco
Inside the Palacio del Cabildo on Plaza Regocijo, Cusco's Museo de Arte Contemporáneo hosts temporary shows by Peruvian and international artists alongside a permanent collection of Cusco and Peruvian artists.
Chakan
Chakan is an Inca-era archaeological site that belongs to the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
Sayhuite
About 47 kilometers east of Abancay in Peru's Apurímac region, Sayhuite is an archaeological site considered a center of Inca religious worship focused on water.
In Abancay itself
Lake Uspaccocha
Inside Ampay National Sanctuary, north of the city of Abancay, Lake Uspaccocha (also Uspaycocha) is an Andean lake at 3,750 meters above sea level.
Usnu Muqu
Usnu Muqu is an archaeological site near the main square of Tamburco, in Abancay Province of Peru's Apurímac Region.
Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa
Perched on a hill about 9 km from Abancay, Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (Mirador de Taraccasa) has play areas, an artificial lagoon, a zoo, a cross and views over the city.
More drives to Abancay
More drives from La Paz
- La Paz, Bolivia to Coroico
- La Paz, Bolivia to Llallagua
- La Paz, Bolivia to Challapata
- La Paz, Bolivia to Quillacollo
- La Paz, Bolivia to Villa Tunari
- La Paz, Bolivia to Cochabamba
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Paz, Bolivia to Abancay, Peru?
About 14 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 528 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Paz, Bolivia to Abancay, Peru?
About 528 miles (850 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 La Paz to Abancay drive cross the border?
At about mile 67, from Bolivia into Peru, at Desaguadero.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Paz into Peru?
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. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from La Paz, Bolivia to Abancay, Peru?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from La Paz to Abancay use?
In order: F1, PE-3S and CU-606. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Paz and Abancay?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (cathedral, mile 160, 0.4 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 325, 0.4 mi from the route); Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 502, 0.3 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.