Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina is about 459 road miles (738 km): roughly 13 h 5 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 286, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Argentina. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Argentina July 10, 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.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 459 mi (738 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 → F14 → RN9 → RP79 → RN IV40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 286, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Chuquisaca, Potosí, Jujuy, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The border on the way to San Antonio de los Cobres
The route crosses at about mile 286, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Potosí into Jujuy. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| 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 Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres is like
F14 (177 mi) and RP79 (81 mi) carry about 56% of the 459 miles. The first 286 miles are in Bolivia; the last 173 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Chuquisaca, Potosí, Jujuy, Salta. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chuquisaca |
| F5 | 1–72 | 71 | Chuquisaca, Potosí |
| local roads | 72–107 | 35 | Potosí |
| F14 | 107–284 | 177 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 284–286 | 2 | Potosí |
| RN9 | 286–337 | 51 | Jujuy |
| RP79 | 337–418 | 81 | Jujuy |
| RN IV40 | 418–459 | 41 | Jujuy, Salta |
- Mile 31 of this route: Chuquisaca → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
- Mile 419 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
Stops between Sucre and San Antonio de los Cobres
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
Salinas Grandes
Spread across Jujuy and Salta provinces at about 3,450 meters, the Salinas Grandes salt flat covers 212 square kilometers of white desert.
More drives to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Salvador de Jujuy to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Tafí Viejo to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Santiago del Estero to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Catamarca to San Antonio de los Cobres
- La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres
More drives from Sucre
- Sucre to Quillacollo
- Sucre to Quime
- Sucre to Tiwanaku
- Sucre to Coroico
- Sucre to Chulumani
- Sucre to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina?
About 13 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 459 miles.
How far is San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina from Sucre by car?
About 459 miles (738 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 Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres drive cross the border?
At about mile 286, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Sucre into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres?
In order: F5, F14, RN9, RP79 and RN IV40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres?
Closest to the road: Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area (nature area, mile 231, 2 mi from the route); Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (protected area, mile 277, 0.9 mi from the route); Salinas Grandes (salt flat, mile 398, 3 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.