Arequipa to Chinchero is about 322 road miles (519 km): roughly 9 h 57 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 322 mi (519 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | AR-116 → PE-34E → CU-130 → CU-126 → PE-34F → CU-1627 → CU-117 → PE-3S → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
On the road from Arequipa to Chinchero
PE-34E (127 mi) and PE-3S (54 mi) carry about 56% of the 322 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Arequipa, Cusco. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Arequipa to Chinchero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Arequipa |
| AR-116 | 4–37 | 33 | Arequipa |
| PE-34E | 37–164 | 127 | Arequipa, Cusco |
| connecting roads | 164–167 | 3 | Cusco |
| CU-130 | 167–210 | 43 | Cusco |
| CU-126 | 210–224 | 14 | Cusco |
| PE-34F | 224–231 | 7 | Cusco |
| CU-1627 | 231–243 | 12 | Cusco |
| CU-117 | 243–246 | 3 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 246–293 | 47 | Cusco |
| local roads | 293–301 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 301–303 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 303–310 | 7 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 310–321 | 11 | Cusco |
| local roads | 321–322 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 122 of this route: Arequipa → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Cusco → Arequipa (region line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Arequipa → Cusco (region line)
Stops between Arequipa and Chinchero
Ayamachay
Ayamachay is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Combapata District of Cusco's Canchis Province, above the left bank of the Salcca River near the village of Oroscocha.
Cusilluchayoc
Also called the Temple of the Monkeys, Cusilluchayoc is an archaeological site in Cusco, half a kilometer from Kenko, where a large rock carries carved animal figures such as snakes and toads.
Balcón del Diablo
On the right bank of the Chakan River, the Devil's Balcony (Balcón del Diablo) is an archaeological site set on a large rock formation.
In Chinchero itself
Lake Piuray
Lake Piuray (Laguna Piuray) lies in the Chinchero district of Cusco, in the Vilcanota range. Its deep blue water is fed by several streams, including the Pongobamba and Huila Huila.
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
More drives to Chinchero
- Písac to Chinchero
- Abancay to Chinchero
- Andahuaylas to Chinchero
- Ayacucho, Peru to Chinchero
- Nazca to Chinchero
- Ica to Chinchero
From Arequipa to other places in Peru
- Arequipa to Chucuito
- Arequipa to Desaguadero
- Arequipa to Cusco
- Arequipa to Písac
- Arequipa to Yucay
- Arequipa to Urubamba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Arequipa to Chinchero?
About 9 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 322 miles.
How far is Chinchero from Arequipa by car?
About 322 miles (519 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 Arequipa to Chinchero?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Arequipa to Chinchero use?
In order: AR-116, PE-34E, CU-130, CU-126, PE-34F, CU-1627, CU-117, PE-3S and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Arequipa to Chinchero?
Closest to the road: Ayamachay (archaeological site, mile 231, 2 mi from the route); Cusilluchayoc (archaeological site, mile 302, 1 mi from the route); Balcón del Diablo (archaeological site, mile 306, 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.