Plan on about 9 h 34 min of driving for the 408-mile (656 km) trip from Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra, Brazil, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Brazil at about mile 325.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Bolivia and Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Bolivia, Brazil. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 408 mi (656 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | F17 → F4 → BR-262 → MS-184 |
| Border crossing | about mile 325, Bolivia → Brazil |
| Regions on the route | Santa Cruz, Mato Grosso do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Bolivia into Brazil
The route crosses at about mile 325, from Santa Cruz into Mato Grosso do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| 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. |
| 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra is like
F4 (230 mi) and F17 (80 mi) carry about 76% of the 408 miles. The first 325 miles are in Bolivia; the last 83 are in Brazil. It runs through 2 regions: Santa Cruz, Mato Grosso do Sul. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–14 | 14 | Santa Cruz |
| F17 | 14–94 | 80 | Santa Cruz |
| connecting roads | 94–96 | 2 | Santa Cruz |
| F4 | 96–326 | 230 | Santa Cruz, Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-262 | 326–402 | 76 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-184 | 402–408 | 6 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
- Mile 325 of this route: Santa Cruz → Mato Grosso do Sul (international border)
What to see on the way from Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario Mariano de la Torre (mile 152)
- Museums and history: Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja (mile 96), Pantanal History Museum (mile 329)
Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja
About 3 km south of San José de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz la Vieja is a historic national park protecting archaeological, historical, and natural features.
Santuario Mariano de la Torre
Also called the Chochís Sanctuary, this shrine to the Virgin of the Assumption stands 2 km from the village of Chochís in Roboré municipality, about 80 km east of San José de Chiquitos.
Pantanal History Museum
Down at the Porto Geral of the border city of Corumbá, the Pantanal History Museum (Museu de História do Pantanal) is maintained by the Fundação Barbosa Rodrigues.
More drives to Passo do Lontra
- Três Lagoas to Passo do Lontra
- Araçatuba to Passo do Lontra
- Jataí to Passo do Lontra
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Passo do Lontra, Brazil
- San Ignacio de Velasco to Passo do Lontra, Brazil
- San José de Chiquitos to Passo do Lontra, Brazil
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra, Brazil?
About 9 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
How far is Passo do Lontra, Brazil from Santa Ana de Velasco by car?
About 408 miles (656 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 Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra drive cross the border?
At about mile 325, from Bolivia into Brazil.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Ana de Velasco into Brazil?
Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Ana de Velasco to Passo do Lontra?
In order: F17, F4, BR-262 and MS-184. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Ana de Velasco and Passo do Lontra?
Closest to the road: Parque nacional Histórico Santa Cruz La Vieja (archaeological site, mile 96, 3 mi from the route); Santuario Mariano de la Torre (shrine, mile 152, 0.9 mi from the route); Pantanal History Museum (history museum, mile 329, 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.