Paucartambo to Copacabana, Bolivia is about 359 road miles (577 km): roughly 10 h 42 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 353, 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: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Total distance | 359 mi (577 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | CU-113 → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 353, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 353, 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.
The Paucartambo–Copacabana drive in a few lines
PE-3S (259 mi) and CU-113 (43 mi) carry about 84% of the 359 miles. The first 353 miles are in Peru; the last 6 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Paucartambo to Copacabana
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cusco |
| CU-113 | 1–44 | 43 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 44–46 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 46–202 | 156 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 202–204 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 204–209 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 209–216 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 216–228 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 228–264 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 264–272 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 272–339 | 67 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 339–353 | 14 | Puno |
| F2 | 353–359 | 6 | La Paz |
- Mile 139 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 353 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Paucartambo and Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ninamarca (mile 15), Rumicolca (mile 48), Raqch'i (mile 102), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 202), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 244), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 270), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 270)
- Museums and history: Ninamarca (mile 15), Rumicolca (mile 48), Raqch'i (mile 102), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 202), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 270), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 270), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 352)
Ninamarca
Near the village of Ninamaca, southeast of Colquepata in the Cusco Region's Paucartambo Province, Ninamarca is an archaeological site in Peru.
Rumicolca
Rumicolca is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco Region, found in Lucre District of Quispicanchi Province.
Raqch'i
Raqch'i, in the Vilcanota valley of Cusco's Canchis province, preserves the Inca temple of Wiracocha, about 92 meters long, along with ceremonial spaces and 156 qolqas, or storehouses, built partly of volcanic stone.
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.
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.
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.
Arriving in 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 Paucartambo
- Paucartambo to Yucay
- Paucartambo to Urubamba
- Paucartambo to Chinchero
- Paucartambo to Mollepata
- Paucartambo to Cachora
- Paucartambo to Lampa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paucartambo to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 10 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
What is the driving distance from Paucartambo to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 359 miles (577 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 Paucartambo to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 353, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Paucartambo 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 Paucartambo 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 Paucartambo to Copacabana?
In order: CU-113, PE-3S, PU-117, PE-34B, 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 Paucartambo to Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Rumicolca (archaeological site, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 202, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 244, 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.