By road, Yucay and Tiwanaku, Bolivia are about 386 miles (622 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 31 min of driving. You cross from Peru into Bolivia at about mile 358, at Desaguadero.
Full advisory: Peru, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
- Bolivia: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
| Total distance | 386 mi (622 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B → F1 |
| Border crossing | about mile 358, Peru → Bolivia (Desaguadero) |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno, La Paz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Peru into Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 358, at Desaguadero, from Puno into La Paz. 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 Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| 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, Peru (updated August 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Yucay to Tiwanaku is like
PE-3S (283 mi) and PE-28B (41 mi) carry about 84% of the 386 miles. The first 358 miles are in Peru; the last 28 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Puno, La Paz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Yucay to Tiwanaku: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–41 | 41 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 41–197 | 156 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 197–199 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 199–203 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 203–211 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 211–222 | 11 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 222–259 | 37 | Puno |
| local roads | 259–267 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 267–357 | 90 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 357–358 | 1 | Puno |
| F1 | 358–385 | 27 | La Paz |
| local roads | 385–386 | 1 | La Paz |
- Mile 133 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Puno → La Paz (international border)
Places worth a stop between Yucay and Tiwanaku
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Inkariy Museum (mile 8), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 116), Pucará (mile 196), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 196), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 238), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 265), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 265)
- Museums and history: Inkariy Museum (mile 8), Huchuy Qosqo (mile 14), Pucará (mile 196), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 196), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 265), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 265)
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca archaeological site north of Cusco whose Quechua name means "Little Cusco."
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno
On Puno's Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo was built between 1669 and 1757, with a mestizo Baroque stone facade blending Andean and European art.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
When you get to Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku
Near Lake Titicaca, about 70 km from La Paz, Tiwanaku is a pre-Columbian archaeological site whose surface remains cover around 4 square kilometers, with monumental structures, megalithic blocks and decorated ceramics.
Kalasasaya
Part of the Tiwanaku complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Bolivia, the Kalasasaya is a low platform mound with a large courtyard enclosed by high stone walls.
Akapana
At the pre-Columbian site of Tiwanaku in Bolivia's La Paz department, Akapana is an artificial platform mound built in seven levels held by carved sandstone walls.
More drives to Tiwanaku
- Coroico to Tiwanaku
- Chulumani to Tiwanaku
- San Borja to Tiwanaku
- Rurrenabaque to Tiwanaku
- Llallagua to Tiwanaku
- Quillacollo to Tiwanaku
More drives from Yucay
- Yucay to Paracas
- Yucay to Kiteni
- Yucay to Lampa
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Yucay to Yumani, Bolivia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Yucay to Tiwanaku, Bolivia?
About 11 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.
How far is Tiwanaku, Bolivia from Yucay by car?
About 386 miles (622 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 Yucay to Tiwanaku drive cross the border?
At about mile 358, from Peru into Bolivia, at Desaguadero.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Yucay 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Yucay to Tiwanaku, Bolivia?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Yucay to Tiwanaku?
In order: PE-28B, PE-3S, PU-117, PE-34B and F1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Yucay to Tiwanaku?
Closest to the road: Inkariy Museum (museum, mile 8, 0.1 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 196, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 238, 0.1 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.