Plan on about 5 h 30 min of driving for the 216-mile (347 km) trip from La Rinconada to Copacabana, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 209, 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Total distance | 216 mi (347 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-34L → PE-34H → PE-3S → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 209, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 209, 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.
Driving La Rinconada to Copacabana: the shape of the trip
PE-3S (89 mi) and PE-34H (88 mi) carry about 82% of the 216 miles. The first 209 miles are in Peru; the last 7 are in Bolivia. It runs through 2 regions: Puno, La Paz. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect La Rinconada and Copacabana
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Puno |
| PE-34L | 6–11 | 5 | Puno |
| PE-34H | 11–99 | 88 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 99–121 | 22 | Puno |
| local roads | 121–129 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 129–196 | 67 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 196–210 | 14 | Puno, La Paz |
| F2 | 210–215 | 5 | La Paz |
| local roads | 215–216 | 1 | La Paz |
- Mile 209 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
What to see on the way from La Rinconada to Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 127), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 127), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 135), Inca Uyo (mile 139)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 127), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 127), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 135), Inca Uyo (mile 139), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 208)
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.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
Inka Tunuwiri
Inka Tunuwiri is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, located between the Chucuito and Puno districts, southeast of the village of Ichu.
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.
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.
Once you reach 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 La Rinconada
- La Rinconada to Andahuaylillas
- La Rinconada to Písac
- La Rinconada to Chinchero
- La Rinconada to Yucay
- La Rinconada to Urubamba
- La Rinconada to Maras
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Rinconada to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 5 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.
How far is Copacabana, Bolivia from La Rinconada by car?
About 216 miles (347 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 Rinconada to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 209, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Rinconada 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 Rinconada to Copacabana, Bolivia?
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 La Rinconada to Copacabana use?
In order: PE-34L, PE-34H, PE-3S, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Rinconada to Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Carlos Dreyer Museum (museum, mile 127, 0.3 mi from the route); Inka Tunuwiri (archaeological site, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Inca Uyo (archaeological site, mile 139, 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.