By road, La Paz, Bolivia and Mollepata, Peru are about 469 miles (755 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 38 min of driving. You cross from Bolivia into Peru at about mile 67, at Desaguadero.
Full advisory: 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 469 mi (755 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-109 |
| Border crossing | about mile 67, Bolivia → Peru (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Mollepata
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.
How the La Paz to Mollepata drive plays out
PE-3S (352 mi) and F1 (60 mi) carry about 88% of the 469 miles. The first 67 miles are in Bolivia; the last 402 are in Peru. It runs through 3 regions: La Paz, Puno, Cusco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Paz to Mollepata, 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 | 459–463 | 4 | Cusco |
| CU-109 | 463–469 | 6 | Cusco |
- Mile 67 of this route: La Paz → Puno (international border)
- Mile 289 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
Stops between La Paz and Mollepata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tiwanaku Site Museum (mile 40), Inca Uyo (mile 149), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 160), Pucará (mile 224), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 305), Raqch'i (mile 325), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 400), Puqro (mile 402)
- Museums and history: Tiwanaku Site Museum (mile 40), Inca Uyo (mile 149), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 160), Pucará (mile 224), Raqch'i (mile 325), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 400), Puqro (mile 402), Tampukancha (mile 423)
Tiwanaku Site Museum
Next to the Tiwanaku pre-Columbian archaeological site in Tiwanaku, Bolivia, the Tiwanaku Site Museum holds funerary artifacts, ceramic pieces and stone sculptures.
Inca Uyo
Near the Church of Santo Domingo in lakeside Chucuito, Inca Uyo is a rectangular walled enclosure of cut stone holding carved, mushroom-shaped stones. Its original purpose is still debated; Peru declared it national cultural heritage in 2001.
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.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
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.
Regional Historical Museum of Cusco
The Regional Historical Museum of Cusco occupies the house where chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was born and lived, in the city of Cusco.
Puqro
Puqro is an Inca-era archaeological site within the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, once part of a water system linked to the Qhalispuquio shrine and the Sisikancha.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
More drives to Mollepata
- Andahuaylas to Mollepata
- Ayacucho, Peru to Mollepata
- Pisco to Mollepata
- Huancayo to Mollepata
- Jauja to Mollepata
- Maras to Mollepata
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 Mollepata, Peru?
About 12 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
How far is Mollepata, Peru from La Paz, Bolivia by car?
About 469 miles (755 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 Mollepata 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the La Paz to Mollepata drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Paz to Mollepata?
In order: F1, PE-3S, CU-606 and CU-109. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Paz to Mollepata?
Closest to the road: Inca Uyo (archaeological site, mile 149, 0.2 mi from the route); 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). 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.