The Wayro route from La Quiaca to Tarata, Bolivia is 475 miles (764 km), about 12 h 24 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Bolivia at about mile 1, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Argentina, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Distance | 475 mi (764 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | F14 → F5 → F23 |
| Border crossing | about mile 1, Argentina → Bolivia (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Jujuy, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The border on the way to Tarata
The route crosses at about mile 1, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Jujuy into Potosí. 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 Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the La Quiaca to Tarata drive plays out
F14 (178 mi) and F5 (158 mi) carry about 71% of the 475 miles. The first 1 miles are in Argentina; the last 474 are in Bolivia. It runs through 4 regions: Jujuy, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
La Quiaca to Tarata: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Jujuy, Potosí |
| F14 | 2–180 | 178 | Potosí |
| local roads | 180–214 | 34 | Potosí |
| F5 | 214–372 | 158 | Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba |
| F23 | 372–460 | 88 | Cochabamba |
| local roads | 460–475 | 15 | Cochabamba |
- Mile 1 of this route: Jujuy → Potosí (international border)
- Mile 257 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (region line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Chuquisaca → Cochabamba (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Tarata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 10), La Glorieta castle (mile 282), Casa de la Libertad (mile 286), Palacete del Guereo (mile 286), Parque Cretácico (mile 290)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Cretácico (mile 290)
- Museums and history: La Glorieta castle (mile 282), Casa de la Libertad (mile 286), Palacete del Guereo (mile 286)
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
La Glorieta castle
On the outskirts of Sucre, La Glorieta castle is a Bolivian national monument that was the seat of the principality of La Glorieta, founded by Clotilde Urioste and Francisco Argandoña Revilla.
Casa de la Libertad
Bolivia's Declaration of Independence was signed in 1825 at the Casa de la Libertad in Sucre, where the Bolivian Congress also met until 1898.
Palacete del Guereo
Part of Bolivia's cultural heritage, the Palacete del Guereo hosts cultural activities in the historic city of Sucre, a World Heritage city.
Parque Cretácico
Dinosaur models fill Parque Cretácico, a theme park in Sucre with a viewpoint over Cal Orcko, a 70-meter-high, 1-km-long rock face bearing thousands of Late Cretaceous dinosaur footprints.
Once you reach Tarata
Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco
Known for its leafy, old carob trees, the Bosque de Algarrobos de Tiataco is a municipal protected area in Arbieto, Cochabamba, where the traditional Wallunk'a and Mast'aku celebrations take place.
More drives to Tarata
- Llallagua to Tarata
- Chulumani to Tarata
- San Borja to Tarata
- Potosí to Tarata
- Uyuni to Tarata
- Tupiza to Tarata
More drives from La Quiaca
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Quiaca to Tarata, Bolivia?
About 12 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
How far is Tarata, Bolivia from La Quiaca by car?
About 475 miles (764 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 Quiaca to Tarata drive cross the border?
At about mile 1, from Argentina into Bolivia, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Quiaca 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.)
Is it safe to drive from La Quiaca to Tarata, Bolivia?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Quiaca to Tarata?
In order: F14, F5 and F23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Quiaca to Tarata?
Closest to the road: La Glorieta castle (museum, mile 282, 0.2 mi from the route); Casa de la Libertad (museum, mile 286, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque Cretácico (park, mile 290, 0.1 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.