Plan on about 12 h 55 min of driving for the 463-mile (745 km) trip from Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 457, 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Distance | 463 mi (745 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30C → PE-34B → PE-3S → PU-130 → F2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 457, Peru → Bolivia (Kasani) |
| Regions on the route | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing from Peru into Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 457, 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 Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana: the shape of the trip
PE-34B (218 mi) and PE-30C (112 mi) carry about 71% of the 463 miles. The first 457 miles are in Peru; the last 6 are in Bolivia. It runs through 4 regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, La Paz. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Madre de Dios |
| PE-30C | 2–114 | 112 | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco |
| PE-34B | 114–332 | 218 | Cusco, Puno |
| PE-3S | 332–369 | 37 | Puno |
| local roads | 369–377 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 377–443 | 66 | Puno |
| PU-130 | 443–457 | 14 | Puno |
| F2 | 457–463 | 6 | La Paz |
- Mile 99 of this route: Madre de Dios → Puno (region line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 457 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Stops between Puerto Maldonado and Copacabana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chichakuri (mile 194), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 348), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 375), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 383), Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito (mile 386)
- Museums and history: Chichakuri (mile 194), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 375), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 383), Intini Uyu Pata (mile 456)
Chichakuri
Stone tombs, walls, houses and squares make up Chichakuri, an archaeological site in Peru whose Quechua-Aymara name refers to the chigoe flea.
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.
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.
Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito
On the shore of Lake Titicaca in Chucuito, Puno, the Benedictine Monastery of the Resurrection belongs to the Order of Saint Benedict and is described as the highest Catholic monastery in the world, at 3,870 meters.
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.
When you get to 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
- Andahuaylas to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Abancay to Copacabana, Bolivia
- La Rinconada to Copacabana, Bolivia
More drives from Puerto Maldonado
- Puerto Maldonado to Lampa
- Puerto Maldonado to Chucuito
- Puerto Maldonado to Andahuaylillas
- Puerto Maldonado to Písac
- Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero
- Puerto Maldonado to Yucay
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 12 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 463 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana, Bolivia?
About 463 miles (745 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 Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana drive cross the border?
At about mile 457, from Peru into Bolivia, at Kasani.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Puerto Maldonado 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana drive?
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 Puerto Maldonado to Copacabana use?
In order: PE-30C, PE-34B, PE-3S, PU-130 and F2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Maldonado and Copacabana?
Closest to the road: Chichakuri (archaeological site, mile 194, 0.2 mi from the route); Inka Tunuwiri (archaeological site, mile 383, 0.2 mi from the route); Monasterio Benedictino de la Resurrección de Chucuito (monastery, mile 386, 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.