Inca Road — Cusco to Quillacollo via the Bolivian Altiplano High Corridor
Roof of South America, roof of your limits.
Push your rig above 4,500 meters and you’ll understand why the Incas considered this landscape sacred. The route departs Cusco, climbs past the ruins of Raqchi, crosses the Bolivian border at Desaguadero, and follows altiplano tracks through Oruro before descending the Cochabamba escarpment toward Quillacollo. The road surface shifts constantly — paved sections dissolve into broken cobble, then corrugated dirt, then deep altiplano dust that swallows a wheel with no warning. Lake Titicaca sits to your north for much of the Bolivian approach, its blue completely wrong for a landscape this high and this dry.
Altitude is the primary enemy here, not technical terrain. Most sections are passable by a capable stock 4WD, but a well-loaded rig will labor badly above 4,200m if not properly acclimatized — and so will you. Carry extra fuel between Desaguadero and Oruro; stations are sparse and often dry. Water purification is essential. Best window is May through October during the dry season; the altiplano turns to mud soup in the wet months. Border crossing formalities at Desaguadero require patience and current carnet or temporary import documents. What you get is one of the most genuinely remote overland corridors in the western hemisphere.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 520 mi / 837 km |
| Duration | 5-7 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 14900 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Cusco, Peru |
| Land manager | Multiple — Peru MTC and Bolivia ABC (road administrations) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bolivia ABC road authority Peru MTC transport ministry |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser or 4Runner handle this route without modifications?
Yes — a stock high-clearance 4WD is the minimum and will manage the route. Skid plates are strongly advised given the rocky altiplano sections, and a reliable spare (or two) is non-negotiable on a 520-mile crossing with no parts stores in between.
Is the route passable in November through April?
No. The altiplano rainy season runs roughly November through April, turning unpaved sections into mud traps and making water crossings genuinely dangerous. Stick to May through October — the dry season window is non-negotiable at this elevation.
Do you need special permits or visas to cross from Peru into Bolivia on this route?
Yes. You need a valid visa or entry authorization for both countries, plus a vehicle temporary import permit (TIP) for each country — get the Peruvian one at the border and the Bolivian one through SENAVEX. Carry your title, registration, and passport copies; border crossings on the altiplano can be bureaucratic and slow.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should you expect?
The roughest stretch runs through the high corridor between Desaguadero and Patacamaya in Bolivia, where corrugated dirt road and exposed rocky track push sustained effort above 13,000 feet — at that altitude your engine loses significant power and you feel every jarring mile more than usual. It's rated moderate, but driver fatigue and altitude sickness are real hazards here; build in rest time.
How far apart are reliable fuel stops, and can you count on fuel being available in the small towns along the way?
Fuel stops are sparse and inconsistent — plan on carrying a minimum 20-liter jerry can reserve on top of a full tank before leaving Cusco and again when you reach the Bolivian side. Small altiplano towns may have fuel or may not; don't assume, and top off every time you have a confirmed opportunity.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.