Abancay to Desaguadero is about 537 road miles (865 km): roughly 13 h 59 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 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.”
| Distance | 537 mi (865 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | AP-650 → PE-3SF → PE-3SG → PE-3SW → CU-134 → PU-125 → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B |
| Regions on the route | Apurímac, Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Abancay to Desaguadero: the shape of the trip
PE-3S (156 mi) and PE-3SF (138 mi) carry about 55% of the 537 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Apurímac, Cusco, Puno. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Abancay to Desaguadero, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 2–6 | 4 | Apurímac |
| PE-3SF | 6–144 | 138 | Apurímac |
| PE-3SG | 144–237 | 93 | Apurímac, Cusco |
| PE-3SW | 237–283 | 46 | Cusco |
| PE-3SG | 283–303 | 20 | Cusco |
| CU-134 | 303–327 | 24 | Cusco, Puno |
| PU-125 | 327–347 | 20 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 347–378 | 31 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 378–380 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 380–385 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 385–391 | 6 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 391–404 | 13 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 404–440 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 440–448 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 448–537 | 89 | Puno |
- Mile 169 of this route: Apurímac → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 357), Pucará (mile 378), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 378), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 446), Molloko (mile 470)
- Museums and history: Kanamarka (mile 289), Mullu Q'awa (mile 293), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 357), Pucará (mile 378), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 378), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 446), Molloko (mile 470)
Kanamarka
Kanamarka is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco Region, in the Alto Pichigua District of Espinar Province.
Mullu Q'awa
Mullu Q'awa is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Alto Pichigua District, Espinar Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Facing Ayaviri's main square, the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is an Andean Baroque church more than three centuries old. Look for its columned facade and 18th-century religious paintings by Isidoro Francisco de Moncada.
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.
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.
Molloko
Molloko is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, about 5 kilometers south of the town of Acora, near the village of Molloco.
More drives to Desaguadero
- Puno to Desaguadero
- Juliaca to Desaguadero
- Chinchero to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Maras to Desaguadero
- Paucartambo to Desaguadero
From Abancay to other places in Peru
- Abancay to Huacachina
- Abancay to Jauja
- Abancay to Tarma
- Abancay to La Merced
- Abancay to Maras
- Abancay to Písac
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Abancay to Desaguadero?
About 13 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 537 miles.
How far is Desaguadero from Abancay by car?
About 537 miles (865 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 Abancay to Desaguadero?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Abancay to Desaguadero?
In order: AP-650, PE-3SF, PE-3SG, PE-3SW, CU-134, PU-125, PE-3S, PU-117 and PE-34B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Abancay and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 357, 0.3 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 378, 0.2 mi from the route); Carlos Dreyer Museum (museum, mile 446, 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.