Have you driven from Buenos Aires to La Paz?

Question

Is it possible to drive from Buenos Aires to La Paz? If so what is the road like and how long would it take? Any issues crossing the border? And assuming that's all ok, what would the drive be like?

Answer 1

It is possible. The best way to do it would be to start in Buenos Aires and head towards Jujuy, driving north west through the provinces of Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Salta, and Jujuy. You would take National Route Number 9 until Rosario City (in the Province of Sante Fe), there change to National Route Number 34 until the City of Santiago del Estero.

I would recommend to sleep over there as you would have already driven more or less 11 hours. An option would be to stay in the Carlos V hotel which is a 4 stars and the best in town.

The next morning you would switch to National Route Number 9 again and head towards San Miguel de Tucumán  and into the Province of Salta until you will arrive to the intersection of National Route Number 9 with National Route Number 34. You will switch to the latter untile the village of Perico where you will switch into National Route Number 66 into the City of San Salvador de Jujuy where you will spend the night (the Panorama hotel is the best in town).

The third and final day you will enter into Bolivia an drive north towards La Paz passing through the cities of Tarija, Potosi and Oruro.

The roads will be thin and you will find a lot of heavy traffic during some parts of your trip. I recommend to travel during daylight and to start your journey early every day (specially the first one). You shouldn't have trouble crossing the boarder.

Answer 2

Alex gave you all that you need to know. I did that a couple of times going from Bs As to the  frontier and one to Tarija Bolivia. I always try to stop in Las Termas de Rio Hondo, because is a good place too .

You have to travel during the day, At night the lights of the oncoming traffic Will make you tired quickly. The 9 road have 2 lines till Rosario but then most of your way will be 1 lane road as the county roads in USA and you have to be very careful wen you have to pass over other car or truck.

Is gonna be around 28 to 30 HS drive, but is gonna be almost 3 days, try to do it with more time and stopping along the road. Cordoba the first day, Salta city and Jujuy are really beautiful , all the way to Tarija is wonderful too. If you have time try to enjoy all that you can along the way.  no issue to cross the border, (Do not carry any drugs).

you have to pay a fee and a ID and car inspection. I don't think you need any visa to Bolivia, with your passport will be enough , but be sure of that checking out at the two embassies.

One more : carry always some cash, cause sometimes you can no buy some thing at some stores with credit card. If you are gonna carry travelers check, check out with the company where you can chage it(especially along the way).

Good luck , be careful and enjoy your trip

Answer 3

It's a long distance, I recomend you to travel by plane, it's cheap for you and you would get there in a shorter time. I'm Argentinean too