Plan on about 11 h 22 min of driving for the 447-mile (720 km) trip from Uyuni to Samaipata, before any stops.
Full advisory: Bolivia. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 447 mi (720 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 → F7 |
| Departments on the route | Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Uyuni to Samaipata drive plays out
F5 (382 mi) and F7 (61 mi) carry about 99% of the 447 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz. Of the 5 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uyuni to Samaipata, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| F5 | 0–126 | 126 | Potosí |
| local roads | 126–130 | 4 | Potosí |
| F5 | 130–386 | 256 | Potosí, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| F7 | 386–447 | 61 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 193 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (department line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Chuquisaca → Cochabamba (department line)
- Mile 370 of this route: Cochabamba → Santa Cruz (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Samaipata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): National Mint of Bolivia (mile 126), Cathedral Basilica of Potosí (mile 126), La Glorieta castle (mile 217), Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR (mile 221), Parque Cretácico (mile 226)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Cretácico (mile 226)
- Museums and history: National Mint of Bolivia (mile 126), Cathedral Basilica of Potosí (mile 126), La Glorieta castle (mile 217), Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR (mile 221)
National Mint of Bolivia
The former Mint of Potosí struck much of the silver that crossed the Spanish Main as coins of the Spanish dollar, once a major world currency.
Cathedral Basilica of Potosí
On Plaza 10 de Noviembre in central Potosí, the Cathedral Basilica of Potosí is a minor basilica with baroque and neoclassical colonial influences and a stone facade.
La Glorieta castle
On the outskirts of Sucre, La Glorieta castle is a Bolivian national monument that was the seat of the principality of La Glorieta, founded by Clotilde Urioste and Francisco Argandoña Revilla.
Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR
In Sucre, the Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR is a cultural center run by the ASUR Foundation, devoted to preserving, exhibiting and promoting the art and culture of Bolivia's Indigenous communities.
Parque Cretácico
Dinosaur models fill Parque Cretácico, a theme park in Sucre with a viewpoint over Cal Orcko, a 70-meter-high, 1-km-long rock face bearing thousands of Late Cretaceous dinosaur footprints.
In Samaipata itself
El Fuerte de Samaipata
El Fuerte de Samaipata is a pre-Columbian archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Andean foothills of Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia.
More drives to Samaipata
- Quillacollo to Samaipata
- Villa Tunari to Samaipata
- Potosí to Samaipata
- Llallagua to Samaipata
- Trinidad, Bolivia to Samaipata
- La Paz, Bolivia to Samaipata
From Uyuni to other places in Bolivia
- Uyuni to Tarata
- Uyuni to Coroico
- Uyuni to Chulumani
- Uyuni to Chucuito, Peru
- Uyuni to Cafayate, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uyuni to Samaipata?
About 11 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 447 miles.
What is the driving distance from Uyuni to Samaipata?
About 447 miles (720 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.
Is it safe to drive from Uyuni to Samaipata?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Uyuni to Samaipata?
In order: F5 and F7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Uyuni to Samaipata?
Closest to the road: La Glorieta castle (museum, mile 217, 0.0 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR (museum of culture, mile 221, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Cretácico (park, mile 226, 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.