Plan on about 13 h 42 min of driving for the 490-mile (788 km) trip from Sorata to Cachora, Peru, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Peru at about mile 101, at Tilali.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Peru. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 490 mi (788 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | F16 → PE-34I → PE-34H → PE-3S → CU-606 → AP-116 |
| Border crossing | about mile 101, Bolivia → Peru (Tilali) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing from Bolivia into Peru
The route crosses at about mile 101, at Tilali, from La Paz into Puno. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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 Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Sorata to Cachora drive plays out
PE-3S (252 mi) and PE-34I (51 mi) carry about 62% of the 490 miles. The first 101 miles are in Bolivia; the last 389 are in Peru. It runs through 4 regions: La Paz, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 7 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Sorata to Cachora
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–31 | 31 | La Paz |
| F16 | 31–74 | 43 | La Paz |
| local roads | 74–98 | 24 | La Paz |
| PE-34I | 98–149 | 51 | La Paz, Puno |
| PE-34H | 149–174 | 25 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 174–178 | 4 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 178–378 | 200 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 378–386 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 386–388 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 388–414 | 26 | Cusco |
| local roads | 414–420 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 420–437 | 17 | Cusco |
| local roads | 437–447 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 447–473 | 26 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| AP-116 | 473–488 | 15 | Apurímac |
| local roads | 488–490 | 2 | Apurímac |
- Mile 101 of this route: La Paz → Puno (international border)
- Mile 277 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 461 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
Places worth a stop between Sorata and Cachora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 212), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 232), Raqch'i (mile 313), Sillkinchani (mile 378), Coricancha (mile 387), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 387)
- Museums and history: Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 212), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 232), Raqch'i (mile 313), Sillkinchani (mile 378), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 387), Tarahuasi (mile 447)
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.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Facing Ayaviri's main square, the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is an Andean Baroque church more than three centuries old. Look for its columned facade and 18th-century religious paintings by Isidoro Francisco de Moncada.
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.
Sillkinchani
About 7 km southeast of Cusco, on an east-facing slope between Saylla and San Jerónimo districts, Sillkinchani is an archaeological site occupied from the Late Intermediate Period through the Late Horizon.
Coricancha
Once the chief temple of the Inca Empire, the Coricancha stands in Cusco, the former imperial capital, and was described by early Spanish colonists.
Regional Historical Museum of Cusco
The Regional Historical Museum of Cusco occupies the house where chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was born and lived, in the city of Cusco.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
In Cachora itself
Inka Raqay, Apurímac
Inka Raqay (Inkaraqay) is a small archaeological complex in Cachora District, Abancay Province, in Peru's Apurímac Region.
Sayhuite
About 47 kilometers east of Abancay in Peru's Apurímac region, Sayhuite is an archaeological site considered a center of Inca religious worship focused on water.
More drives to Cachora
- Andahuaylas to Cachora
- Ayacucho, Peru to Cachora
- Nazca to Cachora
- Ica to Cachora
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huancayo to Cachora
More drives from Sorata
- Sorata to Quime
- Sorata to Challapata
- Sorata to San Juan, Bolivia
- Sorata to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Sorata to Samaipata
- Sorata to Maras, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Sorata to Cachora, Peru?
About 13 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
How far is Cachora, Peru from Sorata by car?
About 490 miles (788 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 Sorata to Cachora drive cross the border?
At about mile 101, from Bolivia into Peru, at Tilali.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Sorata into Peru?
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. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Sorata to Cachora drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Sorata to Cachora use?
In order: F16, PE-34I, PE-34H, PE-3S, CU-606 and AP-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Sorata to Cachora?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 212, 0.3 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 313, 0.4 mi from the route); Sillkinchani (archaeological site, mile 378, 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.