Plan on about 6 h 51 min of driving for the 268-mile (431 km) trip from Villa Tunari to Samaipata, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Bolivia: Chapare Province.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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.”
| Distance by road | 268 mi (431 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | F4 → F7 |
| Departments on the route | Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving Villa Tunari to Samaipata: the shape of the trip
F4 (184 mi) and F7 (65 mi) carry about 93% of the 268 miles. It runs through 2 departments: Cochabamba, Santa Cruz. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Villa Tunari to Samaipata
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| F4 | 0–63 | 63 | Cochabamba |
| local roads | 63–66 | 3 | Cochabamba |
| F4 | 66–111 | 45 | Cochabamba, Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 111–114 | 3 | Santa Cruz |
| F4 | 114–190 | 76 | Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 190–203 | 13 | Santa Cruz |
| F7 | 203–268 | 65 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 82 of this route: Cochabamba → Santa Cruz (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Samaipata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana (mile 191), Museo Artecampo (mile 194), Curichi La Madre (mile 195)
- Nature and outdoors: Piraí River Ecological Protection Park (mile 191), Curichi La Madre (mile 195)
- Museums and history: Museo Artecampo (mile 194)
- With kids: Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana (mile 191)
Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana
Santa Cruz de la Sierra's municipal zoo, named for Noel Kempff Mercado, focuses on South American wildlife and is one of the city's tourist attractions, with many native species.
Piraí River Ecological Protection Park
Along the banks of the Piraí River, this protected park preserves natural areas and helps shield Santa Cruz de la Sierra from river floods.
Museo Artecampo
In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Museo Artecampo showcases Indigenous and folk art from Bolivia's lowlands. It is a project of a cooperative center for research, craft design and marketing.
Curichi La Madre
Officially a municipal protected area, Curichi La Madre is a wetland within the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in eastern Bolivia.
Once you reach Samaipata
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
- Potosí to Samaipata
- Llallagua to Samaipata
- Trinidad, Bolivia to Samaipata
- Uyuni to Samaipata
- La Paz, Bolivia to Samaipata
From Villa Tunari to other places in Bolivia
- Villa Tunari to Llallagua
- Villa Tunari to Quime
- Villa Tunari to Challapata
- Villa Tunari to Tiwanaku
- Villa Tunari to Coroico
- Villa Tunari to Chulumani
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Villa Tunari to Samaipata?
About 6 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
What is the driving distance from Villa Tunari to Samaipata?
About 268 miles (431 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Villa Tunari to Samaipata drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Bolivia: Chapare Province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Villa Tunari to Samaipata use?
In order: F4 and F7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Villa Tunari to Samaipata?
Closest to the road: Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana (zoo, mile 191, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Artecampo (art museum, mile 194, 0.7 mi from the route); Curichi La Madre (park, mile 195, 0.4 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.