The Wayro route from Uyuni to Cafayate, Argentina is 542 miles (873 km), about 12 h 30 min of driving without stops. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 176, 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: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 542 mi (873 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | F21 → F14 → RN9 → RN66 → RN1V66 → RN34 → RP59 → RN68 |
| Border crossing | about mile 176, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Potosí, Jujuy, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Cafayate
The route crosses at about mile 176, 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.
How the Uyuni to Cafayate drive plays out
RN9 (201 mi) and F21 (118 mi) carry about 59% of the 542 miles. The first 176 miles are in Bolivia; the last 366 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Potosí, Jujuy, Salta. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Uyuni to Cafayate
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Potosí |
| F21 | 1–119 | 118 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 119–121 | 2 | Potosí |
| F14 | 121–175 | 54 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 175–178 | 3 | Potosí, Jujuy |
| RN9 | 178–355 | 177 | Jujuy |
| RN66 | 355–370 | 15 | Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 370–378 | 8 | Jujuy |
| RN34 | 378–398 | 20 | Jujuy, Salta |
| RN9 | 398–422 | 24 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 422–424 | 2 | Salta |
| RP59 | 424–428 | 4 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 428–434 | 6 | Salta |
| RN68 | 434–541 | 107 | Salta |
| local roads | 541–542 | 1 | Salta |
- Mile 176 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
- Mile 384 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
What to see on the way from Uyuni to Cafayate
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 168), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 301), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 303), Posta de Hornillos (mile 308)
- Museums and history: José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 301), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 303), Posta de Hornillos (mile 308), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 352), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 352), Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (mile 423)
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.
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Museo Juan Galo Lavalle
Inside a mid-18th-century house declared a National Historic Monument, this provincial history museum marks the place where independence-era leader Juan Galo Lavalle was killed.
Museum of High Altitude Archaeology
In Salta's historic center, the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology holds collections tied to Inca Capacocha ceremonies, mainly the Children of Llullaillaco mummies found in 1999 atop Llullaillaco volcano.
Convento de San Bernardo
Built in the late 16th or early 17th century, Convento de San Bernardo in central Salta is among the city's oldest buildings and a National Historic Monument since 1941.
When you get to Cafayate
Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate
In the town of Cafayate, Salta Province, Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of Cafayate, under the Archdiocese of Salta.
Museo de la Vid y el Vino
In Cafayate, Salta Province, the Museo de la Vid y el Vino is a museum devoted to grapevines and winemaking.
More drives to Cafayate
- San Miguel de Tucumán to Cafayate
- Córdoba, Argentina to Cafayate
- Tafí Viejo to Cafayate
- La Quiaca to Cafayate
- Tupiza to Cafayate, Argentina
More drives from Uyuni
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uyuni to Cafayate, Argentina?
About 12 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 542 miles.
How far is Cafayate, Argentina from Uyuni by car?
About 542 miles (873 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 Uyuni to Cafayate drive cross the border?
At about mile 176, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Uyuni 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 Uyuni to Cafayate, 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 Uyuni to Cafayate?
In order: F21, F14, RN9, RN66, RN1V66, RN34, RP59 and RN68. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Uyuni and Cafayate?
Closest to the road: José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (historic house museum, mile 301, 0.5 mi from the route); Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 303, 0.4 mi from the route); Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 308, 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.