The Wayro route from La Paz, Bolivia to Tarija is 545 miles (877 km), about 13 h 13 min of driving without 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 | 545 mi (877 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 |
| Departments on the route | La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from La Paz to Tarija
F1 (534 mi) carries about 98% of the 545 miles. It runs through 5 departments: La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from La Paz to Tarija
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 4–8 | 4 | La Paz |
| F1 | 8–542 | 534 | La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| local roads | 542–545 | 3 | Tarija |
- Mile 98 of this route: La Paz → Oruro (department line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Oruro → Potosí (department line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (department line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Chuquisaca → Tarija (department line)
Stops between La Paz and Tarija
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chacoma Tombs (mile 15), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 157), National Mint of Bolivia (mile 331)
- Museums and history: Tama Chullpa (mile 77), Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas (mile 138), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (mile 138), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 157), National Mint of Bolivia (mile 331)
Chacoma Tombs
Found in 2017 on the Altiplano near Chacoma and Mazo Cruz in Viacha municipality, the Chacoma Tombs (Tumbas de Chacoma) are a necropolis of underground, cave-like burial chambers, unlike the region's chullpa burial towers.
Tama Chullpa
On the Bolivian Altiplano near the community of Culli Culli Alto, Tama Chullpa is a necropolis of funerary towers, or chullpas, attributed to the pre-Inca Pacajes culture of the Late Intermediate period.
Arenales de Cochiraya
Northwest of Oruro, the Arenales de Cochiraya are 150 hectares of sand formations at the foot of Cerro San Pedro, protected as cultural and landscape heritage and home to a sand sculpture festival since 2004.
Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas
Bolivia's national anthropology museum named for Eduardo López Rivas preserves, studies and shares the archaeological, ethnographic and folk heritage of the Altiplano region.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Oruro's cathedral has been the seat of the Diocese of Oruro since 1924 and stands where the Jesuits' 17th-century church, finished in 1702, once stood.
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
National Mint of Bolivia
The former Mint of Potosí struck much of the silver that crossed the Spanish Main as coins of the Spanish dollar, once a major world currency.
In Tarija itself
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 La Paz to other places in Bolivia
- 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 Tarija?
About 13 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 545 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Paz, Bolivia to Tarija?
About 545 miles (877 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.
Is it safe to drive from La Paz, Bolivia to Tarija?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from La Paz to Tarija?
Closest to the road: Chacoma Tombs (necropolis, mile 15, 0.7 mi from the route); Machacamarca Railway museum (railway museum, mile 157, 0.4 mi from the route); National Mint of Bolivia (museum, mile 331, 0.6 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.