Plan on about 12 h 6 min of driving for the 547-mile (881 km) trip from Umuarama to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Bolivia at about mile 541.
- 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: Brazil, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance by road | 547 mi (881 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | PR-489 → PR-182 → PR-485 → BR-487 → BR-163 → MS-156 → MS-157 → BR-267 → MS-162 → MS-460 → MS-166 → BR-060 → BR-419 → BR-262 → F4 |
| Border crossing | about mile 541, Brazil → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Getting across the Brazil–Bolivia border
The route crosses at about mile 541, from Mato Grosso do Sul into Santa Cruz. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Umuarama to Puerto Suárez drive plays out
BR-262 (182 mi) and BR-163 (94 mi) carry about 50% of the 547 miles. The first 541 miles are in Brazil; the last 6 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Umuarama to Puerto Suárez: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Paraná |
| PR-489 | 1–13 | 12 | Paraná |
| PR-182 | 13–21 | 8 | Paraná |
| PR-485 | 21–25 | 4 | Paraná |
| local roads | 25–38 | 13 | Paraná |
| PR-485 | 38–42 | 4 | Paraná |
| PR-489 | 42–52 | 10 | Paraná |
| BR-487 | 52–86 | 34 | Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-163 | 86–180 | 94 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| connecting roads | 180–183 | 3 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-156 | 183–193 | 10 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-157 | 193–234 | 41 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-267 | 234–239 | 5 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-162 | 239–243 | 4 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-460 | 243–277 | 34 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-166 | 277–282 | 5 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-060 | 282–304 | 22 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-419 | 304–357 | 53 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-262 | 357–539 | 182 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| F4 | 539–546 | 7 | Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 546–547 | 1 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 55 of this route: Paraná → Mato Grosso do Sul (region line)
- Mile 541 of this route: Mato Grosso do Sul → Santa Cruz (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Umuarama and Puerto Suárez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Histórico de Dourados (mile 183)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí (mile 99), Museu Histórico de Dourados (mile 183), Our Lady of Candelaria Cathedral, Corumbá (mile 535), Instituto Luiz de Albuquerque (mile 535)
Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí
Seat of the Diocese of Naviraí since 2011, Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Naviraí, Mato Grosso do Sul.
Museu Histórico de Dourados
Museu Histórico de Dourados is a history museum in the city of Dourados, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Our Lady of Candelaria Cathedral, Corumbá
Also known as Corumbá Cathedral, Our Lady of Candelaria Cathedral stands in the center of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, and houses the image of the city's patron saint.
Instituto Luiz de Albuquerque
In Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, the Instituto Luiz de Albuquerque is a cultural center set in a building that once housed the Grupo Escolar Luís de Albuquerque school.
Arriving in Puerto Suárez
Cáceres Lake
Cáceres Lake is a lagoon in Germán Busch Province, Santa Cruz Department, sitting at about 150 m elevation right on the border with Brazil.
More drives to Puerto Suárez
- Rondonópolis to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia
- Presidente Prudente to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia
- Três Lagoas to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia
More drives from Umuarama
- Umuarama to Paranapiacaba
- Umuarama to Passos
- Umuarama to Areguá, Paraguay
- Umuarama to San Ignacio, Paraguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Umuarama to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia?
About 12 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
What is the driving distance from Umuarama to Puerto Suárez, Bolivia?
About 547 miles (881 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 Umuarama to Puerto Suárez drive cross the border?
At about mile 541, from Brazil into Bolivia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Umuarama into Bolivia?
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. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Umuarama to Puerto Suárez drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia 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.
What roads does the drive from Umuarama to Puerto Suárez use?
In order: PR-489, PR-182, PR-485, BR-487, BR-163, MS-156, MS-157, BR-267, MS-162, MS-460, MS-166, BR-060, BR-419, BR-262 and F4. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Umuarama and Puerto Suárez?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí (cathedral, mile 99, 2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico de Dourados (museum, mile 183, 0.1 mi from the route); Our Lady of Candelaria Cathedral, Corumbá (cathedral, mile 535, 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.