Arequipa to Maras is about 327 road miles (527 km): roughly 10 h 8 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 327 mi (527 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 8 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 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Arequipa–Maras drive in a few lines
PE-34E (127 mi) and PE-3S (54 mi) carry about 55% of the 327 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Arequipa, Cusco. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Arequipa to Maras
| 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 | 310–317 | 7 | Cusco |
| local roads | 317–327 | 10 | 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)
What to see on the way from Arequipa to Maras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Choquepuquio (mile 283), Sacsayhuamán (mile 305)
- Museums and history: Ayamachay (mile 231), Choquepuquio (mile 283), Choquequirao Puquio (mile 301), Sacsayhuamán (mile 305), Salonniyoq (mile 306)
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.
Choquepuquio
Choquepuquio is an extensive Wari archaeological site in the Cusco valley, in Lucre District near the village of Huacarpay and the lake of the same name.
Choquequirao Puquio
North of San Sebastián in Cusco Province, Choquequirao Puquio is an archaeological site whose name likely combines Quechua words for precious metal, cot, and spring or well.
Sacsayhuamán
On the northern edge of Cusco, Sacsayhuamán is an Inca citadel at 3,701 meters and a key example of Inca architecture.
Salonniyoq
Inside the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, the Salonniyoq archaeological site spreads across mostly flat ground on both banks of the Chakán River at the foot of a hill.
Once you reach Maras
Moray
About 50 km northwest of Cusco and just west of Maras, Moray sits on a plateau at roughly 3,500 meters. Its Inca ruins are mainly terraced circular depressions, the largest about 30 meters deep.
Quispiguanca
Quispiguanca, also written Q'espihuanca or Q'espiwanka, was a royal estate of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac.
Ayawayq'u
Ayawayq'u, also known as Yukay or Kapillayuq, is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Yucay District of Urubamba Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
More drives to Maras
- Abancay to Maras
- Andahuaylas to Maras
- Ayacucho, Peru to Maras
- Nazca to Maras
- Huancavelica to Maras
- Ica to Maras
From Arequipa to other places in Peru
- Arequipa to Chucuito
- Arequipa to Desaguadero
- Arequipa to Cusco
- Arequipa to Písac
- Arequipa to Chinchero
- Arequipa to Yucay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Arequipa to Maras?
About 10 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arequipa to Maras?
About 327 miles (527 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 Maras?
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 Maras 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.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Maras?
Closest to the road: Choquepuquio (archaeological site, mile 283, 0.3 mi from the route); Choquequirao Puquio (archaeological site, mile 301, 1 mi from the route); Sacsayhuamán (archaeological site, mile 305, 0.7 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.