Tarabuco to Putre, Chile is about 449 road miles (723 km): roughly 11 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Bolivia into Chile at about mile 411.
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: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
- 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.”
| Total distance | 449 mi (723 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | F6 → F1 → F12 → F27 → F4 → A-149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 411, Bolivia → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Chuquisaca, Potosí, Oruro, Arica y Parinacota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Putre
The route crosses at about mile 411, 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.
What the drive from Tarabuco to Putre is like
F6 (221 mi) and F27 (85 mi) carry about 68% of the 449 miles. The first 411 miles are in Bolivia; the last 38 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Chuquisaca, Potosí, Oruro, Arica y Parinacota. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tarabuco to Putre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chuquisaca |
| F6 | 1–209 | 208 | Chuquisaca, Potosí, Oruro |
| local roads | 209–213 | 4 | Oruro |
| F6 | 213–226 | 13 | Oruro |
| F1 | 226–240 | 14 | Oruro |
| local roads | 240–244 | 4 | Oruro |
| F12 | 244–301 | 57 | Oruro |
| F27 | 301–386 | 85 | Oruro |
| F4 | 386–409 | 23 | Oruro |
| local roads | 409–444 | 35 | Oruro, Arica y Parinacota |
| A-149 | 444–448 | 4 | Arica y Parinacota |
| local roads | 448–449 | 1 | Arica y Parinacota |
- Mile 71 of this route: Chuquisaca → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Potosí → Oruro (region line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Oruro → Arica y Parinacota (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tarabuco and Putre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Palacete del Guereo (mile 38), Convento de San Felipe de Neri (mile 39)
- Nature and outdoors: Sajama National Park (mile 393), Chungará Lake (mile 416), Lauca National Park (mile 430)
- Museums and history: Palacete del Guereo (mile 38), Inka Mach'ay (mile 58), Conchupata Lighthouse (mile 241)
Palacete del Guereo
Part of Bolivia's cultural heritage, the Palacete del Guereo hosts cultural activities in the historic city of Sucre, a World Heritage city.
Convento de San Felipe de Neri
Built in the 18th century, the Convento de San Felipe de Neri in Sucre has terraces among tiled domes and bell towers that look out over the city's many colonial churches.
Inka Mach'ay
At about 3,510 meters in Sucre Municipality, Chuquisaca, Inka Mach'ay is an archaeological site in Bolivia's Oropeza Province.
Conchupata Lighthouse
The Conchupata Lighthouse (Faro de Conchupata) is a lighthouse structure located in the Bolivian city of Oruro.
Sajama Lines
Near Sajama volcano in western Bolivia, the Sajama Lines are thousands of nearly straight paths etched into the Altiplano by Indigenous people over more than 3,000 years.
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
- Quillacollo to Putre, Chile
- Llallagua to Putre, Chile
More drives from Tarabuco
- Tarabuco to Challapata
- Tarabuco to Quime
- Tarabuco to Tiwanaku
- Tarabuco to Coroico
- Tarabuco to Sorata
- Tarabuco to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarabuco to Putre, Chile?
About 11 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 449 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tarabuco to Putre, Chile?
About 449 miles (723 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 Tarabuco to Putre drive cross the border?
At about mile 411, from Bolivia into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tarabuco 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 Tarabuco 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 Tarabuco to Putre use?
In order: F6, F1, F12, F27, F4 and A-149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tarabuco and Putre?
Closest to the road: Palacete del Guereo (museum, mile 38, 0.0 mi from the route); Convento de San Felipe de Neri (convent, mile 39, 0.4 mi from the route); Inka Mach'ay (archaeological site, mile 58, 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.