By road, Ayacucho, Peru and Paucartambo are about 405 miles (652 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 0 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba.
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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 405 mi (652 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PE-28B → CU-105 → CU-772 → CU-593 → CU-597 → CU-664 → CU-113 |
| Regions on the route | Ayacucho, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Ayacucho–Paucartambo drive in a few lines
PE-28B (246 mi) and CU-105 (58 mi) carry about 75% of the 405 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Ayacucho, Cusco. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ayacucho to Paucartambo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 1–7 | 6 | Ayacucho |
| local roads | 7–13 | 6 | Ayacucho |
| PE-28B | 13–259 | 246 | Ayacucho, Cusco |
| CU-105 | 259–265 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-772 | 265–278 | 13 | Cusco |
| CU-105 | 278–325 | 47 | Cusco |
| CU-593 | 325–357 | 32 | Cusco |
| CU-105 | 357–362 | 5 | Cusco |
| local roads | 362–378 | 16 | Cusco |
| CU-597 | 378–396 | 18 | Cusco |
| CU-664 | 396–401 | 5 | Cusco |
| CU-113 | 401–405 | 4 | Cusco |
- Mile 107 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 123 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
Places worth a stop between Ayacucho and Paucartambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de sitio de Quinua (mile 16)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 11), Wari (mile 12), Museo de sitio de Quinua (mile 16)
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.
Wari
Near the town of Quinua, 22 km northeast of Ayacucho, Wari was the capital of the Wari Empire and sits at 2,600 to 2,900 meters.
Museo de sitio de Quinua
In the Quinua District of Ayacucho, the Museo de sitio de Quinua is devoted to the Battle of Ayacucho, which ended Spanish rule in Peru, with a permanent exhibit of related objects.
More drives to Paucartambo
- Cusco to Paucartambo
- Abancay to Paucartambo
- Andahuaylas to Paucartambo
- Nazca to Paucartambo
- Ica to Paucartambo
- Quillabamba to Paucartambo
From Ayacucho to other places in Peru
- Ayacucho, Peru to Huancavelica
- Ayacucho, Peru to Jauja
- Ayacucho, Peru to La Merced
- Ayacucho, Peru to Cerro de Pasco
- Ayacucho, Peru to Oxapampa
- Ayacucho, Peru to Huaral
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ayacucho, Peru to Paucartambo?
About 12 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Paucartambo from Ayacucho, Peru by car?
About 405 miles (652 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 Ayacucho to Paucartambo 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; Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ayacucho to Paucartambo use?
In order: PE-3S, PE-28B, CU-105, CU-772, CU-593, CU-597, CU-664 and CU-113. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ayacucho and Paucartambo?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sitio de Wari (museum, mile 11, 3 mi from the route); Wari (archaeological site, mile 12, 2 mi from the route); Museo de sitio de Quinua (museum, mile 16, 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.