Quillacollo to Putre, Chile is about 323 road miles (520 km): roughly 8 h 21 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Bolivia into Chile at about mile 284.
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 | 323 mi (520 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F1 → A-149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 284, Bolivia → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz, Arica y Parinacota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The border on the way to Putre
The route crosses at about mile 284, 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.
Driving Quillacollo to Putre: the shape of the trip
F4 (227 mi) and F1 (51 mi) carry about 86% of the 323 miles. The first 284 miles are in Bolivia; the last 39 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz, Arica y Parinacota. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Quillacollo to Putre
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| F4 | 0–110 | 110 | Cochabamba, Oruro |
| connecting roads | 110–112 | 2 | Oruro |
| F1 | 112–163 | 51 | Oruro, La Paz |
| connecting roads | 163–166 | 3 | La Paz |
| F4 | 166–283 | 117 | La Paz, Oruro |
| local roads | 283–318 | 35 | Oruro, Arica y Parinacota |
| A-149 | 318–322 | 4 | Arica y Parinacota |
| local roads | 322–323 | 1 | Arica y Parinacota |
- Mile 80 of this route: Cochabamba → Oruro (region line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Oruro → La Paz (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: La Paz → Oruro (region line)
- Mile 284 of this route: Oruro → Arica y Parinacota (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Quillacollo and Putre
- Nature and outdoors: Sajama National Park (mile 267), Chungará Lake (mile 290), Lauca National Park (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Inka Raqay (mile 9), Tama Chullpa (mile 147), Kuntur Amaya (mile 180)
Inka Raqay
Inka Raqay is an archaeological site near the community of Linku in Sipe Sipe municipality, Quillacollo Province, Cochabamba Department.
Tama Chullpa
On the Bolivian Altiplano near the community of Culli Culli Alto, Tama Chullpa is a necropolis of funerary towers, or chullpas, attributed to the pre-Inca Pacajes culture of the Late Intermediate period.
Kuntur Amaya
Kuntur Amaya is an archaeological site in Bolivia's La Paz Department, located in Aroma Province within Umala Municipality, near the community of Wayllani.
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.
More drives to Putre
- Iquique to Putre
- Calama to Putre
- Antofagasta to Putre
- Arequipa to Putre, Chile
- Llallagua to Putre, Chile
- San Borja to Putre, Chile
More drives from Quillacollo
- Quillacollo to Llallagua
- Quillacollo to Challapata
- Quillacollo to Tiwanaku
- Quillacollo to Coroico
- Quillacollo to Chulumani
- Quillacollo to San Borja
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Quillacollo to Putre, Chile?
About 8 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 323 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quillacollo to Putre, Chile?
About 323 miles (520 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 Quillacollo to Putre drive cross the border?
At about mile 284, from Bolivia into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Quillacollo 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 Quillacollo to Putre, 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 Quillacollo to Putre use?
In order: F4, F1 and A-149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quillacollo to Putre?
Closest to the road: Tama Chullpa (archaeological site, mile 147, 3 mi from the route); Kuntur Amaya (archaeological site, mile 180, 1 mi from the route); Chungará Lake (lake, mile 290, 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.