Plan on about 13 h 35 min of driving for the 505-mile (812 km) trip from Chinchero to Huacachina, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Total distance | 505 mi (812 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28F → PE-3S → CU-606 → AP-650 → PE-30A → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Chinchero–Huacachina drive in a few lines
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (85 mi) carry about 72% of the 505 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cusco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chinchero to Huacachina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 1–11 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 11–29 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 29–35 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 35–52 | 17 | Cusco |
| local roads | 52–62 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 62–129 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 129–132 | 3 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 132–137 | 5 | Apurímac |
| PE-30A | 137–414 | 277 | Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica |
| PE-1S | 414–449 | 35 | Ica |
| local roads | 449–452 | 3 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 452–502 | 50 | Ica |
| local roads | 502–505 | 3 | Ica |
- Mile 76 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Apurímac → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Ayacucho → Ica (region line)
Places worth a stop between Chinchero and Huacachina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sayhuite (mile 104), Usnu Muqu (mile 129), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 413), Nazca lines (mile 431), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 432)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 357)
- Museums and history: Cusco Cathedral (mile 11), Sayhuite (mile 104), Usnu Muqu (mile 129), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 413), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 432), Huayuri (mile 455)
Cusco Cathedral
On the northeast side of Cusco's Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption forms the Cathedral Complex together with the Triunfo church and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Cusco.
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.
Sayhuite
About 47 kilometers east of Abancay in Peru's Apurímac region, Sayhuite is an archaeological site considered a center of Inca religious worship focused on water.
Usnu Muqu
Usnu Muqu is an archaeological site near the main square of Tamburco, in Abancay Province of Peru's Apurímac Region.
Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve
Set in the Lucanas Province of Ayacucho, Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve exists mainly to protect the habitat of the vicuña.
Museo Arqueológico Antonini
On Avenida de la Cultura in Nazca, the Museo Arqueológico Antonini holds many of the finds recovered by the Italian archaeological mission Proyecto Nasca (1982–2011).
Nazca lines
Scratched into the Nazca Desert of southern Peru between 500 BC and 500 AD, the Nazca lines are geoglyphs made by removing surface pebbles to expose different-colored ground.
Museo Maria Reiche
Opened in 1994, Museo Maria Reiche (Casa Museo Maria Reiche) is a house museum at kilometer 421.3 of the Pan-American Highway South in El Ingenio district, about 27.5 km from Nasca and 21.3 km from Palpa.
Huayuri
Sometimes called the Lost City of Huayuri, this large pre-Columbian site in the coastal desert of the Ica Region flourished from 1150 to 1450 CE, during the Late Intermediate Period.
When you get to Huacachina
Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins"
Ica's regional archaeological museum, named for Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins, focuses on the different Indigenous cultures that lived in Peru.
St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica
Also called Ica Cathedral, St. Jerome Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Ica, Peru.
More drives to Huacachina
- Lima to Huacachina
- Huaral to Huacachina
- Barranca to Huacachina
- Churin to Huacachina
- Tarma to Huacachina
- Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina
From Chinchero to other places in Peru
- Chinchero to Mollepata
- Chinchero to Cachora
- Chinchero to Paracas
- Chinchero to Andahuaylillas
- Chinchero to Lampa
- Chinchero to Chucuito
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chinchero to Huacachina?
About 13 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
How far is Huacachina from Chinchero by car?
About 505 miles (812 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 Chinchero to Huacachina?
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). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chinchero to Huacachina?
In order: PE-28F, PE-3S, CU-606, AP-650, PE-30A and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chinchero and Huacachina?
Closest to the road: Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 104, 0.3 mi from the route); Usnu Muqu (archaeological site, mile 129, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Maria Reiche (museum, mile 432, 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.