By road, Arequipa and Mollepata are about 372 miles (599 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 26 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 372 mi (599 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | AR-116 → PE-34E → CU-130 → CU-126 → PE-34F → CU-1627 → CU-117 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-109 |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving Arequipa to Mollepata: the shape of the trip
PE-34E (127 mi) and PE-3S (78 mi) carry about 55% of the 372 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Arequipa, Cusco. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Arequipa to Mollepata, road by road
| 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 | 303–330 | 27 | Cusco |
| local roads | 330–336 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 336–353 | 17 | Cusco |
| local roads | 353–362 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 362–366 | 4 | Cusco |
| CU-109 | 366–372 | 6 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Mollepata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Wayna Tawqaray (mile 299), Coricancha (mile 303)
- Museums and history: Ayamachay (mile 231), Tipón (mile 288), Wayna Tawqaray (mile 299)
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.
Tipón
About 22 km southeast of Cusco near the village of Tipón, this early 15th-century Inca site spreads between 3,250 and 3,960 meters and is enclosed by a defensive wall about 6 km long.
Wayna Tawqaray
About 5 km southeast of central Cusco, Wayna Tawqaray is an archaeological site in the San Sebastián District of Cusco Province.
Coricancha
Once the chief temple of the Inca Empire, the Coricancha stands in Cusco, the former imperial capital, and was described by early Spanish colonists.
More drives to Mollepata
- Andahuaylas to Mollepata
- Ayacucho, Peru to Mollepata
- Pisco to Mollepata
- Huancayo to Mollepata
- Jauja to Mollepata
- Maras to Mollepata
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 Mollepata?
About 11 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 372 miles.
How far is Mollepata from Arequipa by car?
About 372 miles (599 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 Arequipa to Mollepata drive?
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 Mollepata use?
In order: AR-116, PE-34E, CU-130, CU-126, PE-34F, CU-1627, CU-117, PE-3S, CU-606 and CU-109. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Mollepata?
Closest to the road: Tipón (archaeological site, mile 288, 1 mi from the route); Wayna Tawqaray (archaeological site, mile 299, 0.3 mi from the route); Coricancha (sun temple, mile 303, 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.