Cusco to Huancavelica is about 498 road miles (802 km): roughly 13 h 14 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 498 mi (802 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → CU-110 → PE-28B → AY-100 → PE-3SM → HV-113 → HV-112 → PE-26 |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Cusco to Huancavelica is like
PE-28B (311 mi) and PE-3SM (29 mi) carry about 68% of the 498 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Cusco to Huancavelica: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 2–16 | 14 | Cusco |
| CU-110 | 16–34 | 18 | Cusco |
| PE-28B | 34–345 | 311 | Cusco, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 345–378 | 33 | Ayacucho |
| AY-100 | 378–399 | 21 | Ayacucho |
| local roads | 399–403 | 4 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 403–411 | 8 | Ayacucho, Huancavelica |
| local roads | 411–433 | 22 | Huancavelica |
| PE-3SM | 433–462 | 29 | Huancavelica |
| connecting roads | 462–463 | 1 | Huancavelica |
| HV-113 | 463–480 | 17 | Huancavelica |
| HV-112 | 480–495 | 15 | Huancavelica |
| PE-26 | 495–498 | 3 | Huancavelica |
- Mile 290 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 297 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 408 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cusco and Huancavelica
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huamanmarca, La Convención (mile 99), Cochapata (mile 106), Atalla (mile 487)
- Museums and history: Pumamarka, Urubamba (mile 37), Huamanmarca, La Convención (mile 99), Cochapata (mile 106), Killa Mach'ay (mile 443), Atalla (mile 487)
Pumamarka, Urubamba
Pumamarka is an archaeological site in the Ollantaytambo District of Urubamba Province, Cusco Region, set where the Patakancha River meets its tributary, the Yuraqmayu.
Huamanmarca, La Convención
On the right bank of the Luq'umayu in Huayopata District, La Convención Province, Huamanmarca is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco region.
Cochapata
Cochapata, also spelled Qochapata, is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco region, located in Huayopata District of La Convención Province.
Killa Mach'ay
Rock paintings and petroglyphs mark Killa Mach'ay, an archaeological site in Acobamba District of Peru's Huancavelica Region.
Atalla
Discovered in the 1950s by Julio Espejo Núñez, Atalla is a Formative-period archaeological site in Yauli district, Huancavelica, where cinnabar and obsidian remains have been found.
Once you reach Huancavelica
St. Anthony Cathedral, Huancavelica
St. Anthony Cathedral is the main Catholic church in Huancavelica, a city in Peru.
Museo Regional Daniel Hernández Morillo
Near the small plaza and church of San Juan de Dios in Huancavelica, Museo Regional Daniel Hernández Morillo sits at an altitude of 3,676 meters.
More drives to Huancavelica
- Huancayo to Huancavelica
- Tarma to Huancavelica
- Lima to Huancavelica
- Cerro de Pasco to Huancavelica
- Huaral to Huancavelica
- Huánuco to Huancavelica
From Cusco to other places in Peru
- Cusco to Abancay
- Cusco to Andahuaylas
- Cusco to Nazca
- Cusco to Ayacucho, Peru
- Cusco to Pisco
- Cusco to Paucartambo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cusco to Huancavelica?
About 13 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cusco to Huancavelica?
About 498 miles (802 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 Cusco to Huancavelica?
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 Cusco to Huancavelica use?
In order: PE-3S, CU-110, PE-28B, AY-100, PE-3SM, HV-113, HV-112 and PE-26. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cusco and Huancavelica?
Closest to the road: Huamanmarca, La Convención (archaeological site, mile 99, 0.1 mi from the route); Cochapata (archaeological site, mile 106, 0.2 mi from the route); Atalla (archaeological site, mile 487, 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.