The Wayro route from Andahuaylas to La Merced is 428 miles (689 km), about 12 h 23 min of driving without 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 428 mi (689 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Andahuaylas to La Merced drive plays out
PE-3S (185 mi) and PE-3SD (124 mi) carry about 72% of the 428 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Andahuaylas to La Merced: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Apurímac |
| PE-3S | 1–186 | 185 | Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica |
| PE-3SD | 186–310 | 124 | Huancavelica, Junín |
| connecting roads | 310–313 | 3 | Junín |
| PE-3SB | 313–346 | 33 | Junín |
| PE-3SA | 346–382 | 36 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 382–384 | 2 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 384–428 | 44 | Junín |
- Mile 66 of this route: Apurímac → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Huancavelica → Junín (region line)
Stops between Andahuaylas and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Qunchupata, Ayacucho (mile 140), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 142), Wichqana (mile 144), Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 320), Hatun Xauxa (mile 345), Catedral de Tarma (mile 384)
- Museums and history: Qunchupata, Ayacucho (mile 140), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 142), Wichqana (mile 144), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 152), Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka (mile 315), Monumental Zone of Huancayo (mile 319), Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 320), Hatun Xauxa (mile 345), Catedral de Tarma (mile 384)
Qunchupata, Ayacucho
Qunchupata is an archaeological zone in Peru's Ayacucho region, in the Ayacucho District of Huamanga Province.
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.
Wichqana
Wichqana is an archaeological site in Ayacucho District, Huamanga Province, in Peru's Ayacucho Region.
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.
Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka
In Huancán district of Huancayo Province, Junín, Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka is a Peruvian archaeology museum.
Monumental Zone of Huancayo
Huancayo's historic center, the Zona Monumental, was declared a Historic Monument of Peru in 1989 and is bounded by Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Pachitea and Angaraes streets.
Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca
Run privately, the Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca is an archaeology museum in Pilcomayo District, near the city of Huancayo.
Hatun Xauxa
Hatun Xauxa is a Late Horizon archaeological site woven into the town of Sausa and its surroundings, covering an estimated 167 to 221 hectares.
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, 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 Andahuaylas to other places in Peru
- Andahuaylas to Huancavelica
- Andahuaylas to Paracas
- Andahuaylas to Jauja
- Andahuaylas to Huacachina
- Andahuaylas to Tarma
- Andahuaylas to Cerro de Pasco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Andahuaylas to La Merced?
About 12 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 428 miles.
How far is La Merced from Andahuaylas by car?
About 428 miles (689 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Andahuaylas to La Merced drive?
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 Andahuaylas to La Merced use?
In order: 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 Andahuaylas and La Merced?
Closest to the road: Qunchupata, Ayacucho (archaeological site, mile 140, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (museum, mile 320, 0.0 mi from the route); Hatun Xauxa (archaeological site, mile 345, 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.