By road, Arequipa and Ollantaytambo are about 338 miles (544 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 24 min of driving.
Full advisory: 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 | 338 mi (544 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | AR-116 → PE-34E → CU-130 → CU-126 → PE-34F → CU-1627 → CU-117 → PE-3S → PE-28B |
| Regions on the route | Arequipa, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Arequipa to Ollantaytambo drive plays out
PE-34E (127 mi) and PE-28B (55 mi) carry about 54% of the 338 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Arequipa, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Arequipa to Ollantaytambo: the road sequence
| 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 | 246–283 | 37 | Cusco |
| PE-28B | 283–338 | 55 | 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 Ollantaytambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Choquepuquio (mile 283), Inti Watana, Calca (mile 303), Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 309), Inkariy Museum (mile 316)
- Museums and history: Ayamachay (mile 231), Choquepuquio (mile 283), Inti Watana, Calca (mile 303), Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 309), Huchuy Qosqo (mile 311), Inkariy Museum (mile 316)
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.
Inti Watana, Calca
Inti Watana is an archaeological site in the Pisac District of Cusco's Calca Province, located about 9 kilometers from Písac.
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Intiyuq K'uchu
Rock paintings mark Intiyuq K'uchu, an archaeological site in Lamay District of Calca Province in the Cusco Region.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca archaeological site north of Cusco whose Quechua name means "Little Cusco."
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
When you get to Ollantaytambo
Ñaupa Iglesia
Near Ollantaytambo, Ñaupa Iglesia is an Inca archaeological site regarded as a huaca and astronomical observatory, where imperial stonework blends with natural rock formations.
Inkapintay
Near Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Inkapintay is an archaeological site with a rock painting; its Quechua name means "Inka painting."
Sitio arqueológico de Raqaypata
Raqaypata is an archaeological site at the top of the Perolniyoc waterfall, at about 3,560 meters above sea level.
More drives to Ollantaytambo
- Abancay to Ollantaytambo
- Andahuaylas to Ollantaytambo
- Ayacucho, Peru to Ollantaytambo
- Nazca to Ollantaytambo
- Huancavelica to Ollantaytambo
- Ica to Ollantaytambo
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 does it take to drive from Arequipa to Ollantaytambo?
About 10 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 338 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arequipa to Ollantaytambo?
About 338 miles (544 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 Ollantaytambo?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Arequipa to Ollantaytambo?
In order: AR-116, PE-34E, CU-130, CU-126, PE-34F, CU-1627, CU-117, PE-3S and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Arequipa and Ollantaytambo?
Closest to the road: Choquepuquio (archaeological site, mile 283, 0.3 mi from the route); Intiyuq K'uchu (archaeological site, mile 309, 0.2 mi from the route); Inkariy Museum (museum, mile 316, 0.2 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.