Plan on about 6 h 48 min of driving for the 293-mile (472 km) trip from Oruro to Arica, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Chile at about mile 170.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Chile. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
| Distance | 293 mi (472 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | F12 → F27 → F4 |
| Border crossing | about mile 170, Bolivia → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Oruro, Arica y Parinacota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Arica
The route crosses at about mile 170, from Oruro into Arica y Parinacota. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| 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 Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Oruro to Arica drive plays out
F27 (84 mi) and F12 (57 mi) carry about 48% of the 293 miles. The first 170 miles are in Bolivia; the last 123 are in Chile. It runs through 2 regions: Oruro, Arica y Parinacota. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oruro to Arica, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Oruro |
| F12 | 4–61 | 57 | Oruro |
| F27 | 61–145 | 84 | Oruro |
| F4 | 145–168 | 23 | Oruro |
| local roads | 168–287 | 119 | Oruro, Arica y Parinacota |
| connecting roads | 287–290 | 3 | Arica y Parinacota |
| local roads | 290–293 | 3 | Arica y Parinacota |
- Mile 170 of this route: Oruro → Arica y Parinacota (international border)
What to see on the way from Oruro to Arica
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 228)
- Nature and outdoors: Sajama National Park (mile 152), Chungará Lake (mile 176), Lauca National Park (mile 190)
- Museums and history: Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 228)
Sajama Lines
Near Sajama volcano in western Bolivia, the Sajama Lines are thousands of nearly straight paths etched into the Altiplano by Indigenous people over more than 3,000 years.
Sajama National Park
In Bolivia's Oruro Department, Sajama National Park is a protected area that shares a border with Chile's Lauca National Park.
Chungará Lake
At 4,517 meters on the Altiplano of the Arica y Parinacota Region, Chungará Lake lies inside Lauca National Park and covers about 22 square kilometers.
Lauca National Park
In Chile's Norte Grande, Lauca National Park covers 1,379 km² of Andean altiplano and mountains, most of them large volcanoes.
Tambo de Zapahuira
Part of the Inca road (Qhapaq Ñan), the Inca-built Tambo de Zapahuira in Putre has a row of linked rectangular rooms and, 150 meters away, two adobe burial towers; it has been a National Monument since 1983.
Once you reach Arica
St. Mark's Cathedral, Arica
Arica's Saint Mark's Cathedral is a cast-iron Catholic church commissioned under Peruvian President José Balta from the United States, built so it could be shipped to Arica via the port of Ancón.
Morro de Arica
Rising steeply from Arica and the sea to 139 meters above sea level, Morro de Arica is a headland with a gentler slope on its eastern side.
Faro Península Alacrán
Part of Chile's lighthouse network, Faro Península Alacrán is an unmanned lighthouse on the Alacrán Peninsula in the city of Arica.
More drives to Arica
- Antofagasta to Arica
- Juliaca to Arica, Chile
- La Paz, Bolivia to Arica, Chile
- Cochabamba to Arica, Chile
- Sucre to Arica, Chile
More drives from Oruro
- Oruro to Chulumani
- Oruro to Rurrenabaque
- Oruro to San Ignacio de Moxos
- Oruro to Villa Tunari
- Oruro to Tarabuco
- Oruro to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Oruro to Arica, Chile?
About 6 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 293 miles.
What is the driving distance from Oruro to Arica, Chile?
About 293 miles (472 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 Oruro to Arica drive cross the border?
At about mile 170, from Bolivia into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Oruro into Chile?
No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Oruro to Arica, Chile?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oruro to Arica use?
In order: F12, F27 and F4. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Oruro and Arica?
Closest to the road: Sajama Lines (geoglyph, mile 135, 2 mi from the route); Chungará Lake (lake, mile 176, 2 mi from the route); Tambo de Zapahuira (archaeological site, mile 228, 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.