Plan on about 15 h 2 min of driving for the 549-mile (883 km) trip from Abancay to La Merced, before any stops.
- 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 549 mi (883 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 15 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | AP-650 → PE-30A → AP-106 → AY-106 → PE-32A → PE-3S → PE-3SD → PE-3SB → PE-3SA → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Abancay to La Merced is like
PE-3SD (125 mi) and PE-32A (110 mi) carry about 43% of the 549 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junín. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Abancay to La Merced, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 2–6 | 4 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 6–7 | 1 | Apurímac |
| PE-30A | 7–59 | 52 | Apurímac |
| AP-106 | 59–88 | 29 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 88–89 | 1 | Apurímac |
| AY-106 | 89–107 | 18 | Apurímac, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 107–115 | 8 | Ayacucho |
| AY-106 | 115–127 | 12 | Ayacucho |
| PE-32A | 127–237 | 110 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 237–306 | 69 | Ayacucho, Huancavelica |
| PE-3SD | 306–431 | 125 | Huancavelica, Junín |
| connecting roads | 431–433 | 2 | Junín |
| PE-3SB | 433–467 | 34 | Junín |
| PE-3SA | 467–502 | 35 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 502–504 | 2 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 504–549 | 45 | Junín |
- Mile 101 of this route: Apurímac → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 421 of this route: Huancavelica → Junín (region line)
Stops between Abancay and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 181), Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Ayacucho (mile 260), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 262), Tarmatambo (mile 500)
- Museums and history: Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 181), Hatun Usnu (mile 229), Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Ayacucho (mile 260), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 262), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 273), Inka Mach'ay (mile 415), Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Huancayo (mile 440), Tarmatambo (mile 500)
Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo
Known as the "ancient place" in Quechua, Ñawpallaqta is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho Region, on the border of the Cayara and Huancapi districts in Víctor Fajardo Province.
Hatun Usnu
Hatun Usnu is an archaeological site atop a mountain of the same name in Chiara District, Huamanga Province, Ayacucho.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Ayacucho
Also known as Huamanga Cathedral, this Baroque cathedral in Ayacucho was declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1972.
Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita"
In Ayacucho, the Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" remembers the years of terrorism in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s. Families of the disappeared (ANFASEP) built it, opening it in October 2005.
Museo de Sitio de Wari
Near the Wari archaeological complex in Ayacucho, the Museo de Sitio de Wari displays ceramics, bone remains and stone objects found during research excavations.
Inka Mach'ay
Inka Mach'ay is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, in the Ñahuimpuquio District of Tayacaja Province.
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Huancayo
On the west side of Constitution Square, Huancayo Cathedral is a neoclassical church that preserves paintings from the Cusco School inside.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Abancay to other places in Peru
- Abancay to Huacachina
- Abancay to Jauja
- Abancay to Tarma
- Abancay to Maras
- Abancay to Písac
- Abancay to Ollantaytambo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Abancay to La Merced?
About 15 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
What is the driving distance from Abancay to La Merced?
About 549 miles (883 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 La Merced?
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.
What roads does the drive from Abancay to La Merced use?
In order: AP-650, PE-30A, AP-106, AY-106, PE-32A, PE-3S, PE-3SD, PE-3SB, PE-3SA and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Abancay and La Merced?
Closest to the road: Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (archaeological site, mile 181, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Ayacucho (basilica, mile 260, 0.6 mi from the route); Tarmatambo (archaeological site, mile 500, 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.