By road, Mollepata and Copacabana, Bolivia are about 401 miles (645 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 8 min of driving. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 395, 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 401 mi (645 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | CU-109 → PE-3S → CU-606 → PU-117 → PE-34B → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 395, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 395, 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.
On the road from Mollepata to Copacabana
PE-3S (300 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 79% of the 401 miles. The first 395 miles are in Peru; the last 6 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Mollepata and Copacabana
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU-109 | 0–6 | 6 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 6–10 | 4 | Cusco |
| local roads | 10–19 | 9 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 19–37 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 37–42 | 5 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 42–69 | 27 | Cusco |
| local roads | 69–79 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 79–245 | 166 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 245–247 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 247–251 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 251–258 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 258–270 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 270–307 | 37 | Puno |
| local roads | 307–315 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 315–381 | 66 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 381–395 | 14 | Puno |
| F2 | 395–401 | 6 | La Paz |
- Mile 181 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 395 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Stops between Mollepata and Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Killarumiyuq (mile 42), Muyuq Marka (mile 67), Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte (mile 70), Pikillaqta (mile 90), Ayamachay (mile 137), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 244), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 286), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 321)
- Museums and history: Killarumiyuq (mile 42), Muyuq Marka (mile 67), Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte (mile 70), Pikillaqta (mile 90), Ayamachay (mile 137), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 244), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 321), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 394)
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Muyuq Marka
Within the Saksaywaman fortress above Cusco, Muyuq Marka is the base of what was once a round Inca tower.
Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte
On Avenida Sol in Cusco, at Galerías Turísticas 103, you'll find the Museo de Arte Popular of the American Institute of Art.
Pikillaqta
Pikillaqta, Quechua for "flea place," is a Wari culture archaeological site in Quispicanchi province, in Peru's Cusco region.
Ayamachay
Ayamachay is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Combapata District of Cusco's Canchis Province, above the left bank of the Salcca River near the village of Oroscocha.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 Mollepata
- Mollepata to Huacachina
- Mollepata to Paracas
- Mollepata to Andahuaylillas
- Mollepata to Kiteni
- Mollepata to Lampa
- Mollepata to Chucuito
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mollepata to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 12 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
How far is Copacabana, Bolivia from Mollepata by car?
About 401 miles (645 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 Mollepata to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 395, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Mollepata 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 Mollepata 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.
Which highways go from Mollepata to Copacabana?
In order: CU-109, PE-3S, CU-606, PU-117, PE-34B, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mollepata and Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Pikillaqta (archaeological site, mile 90, 0.2 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 244, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 286, 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.