Cusco to La Rinconada is about 265 road miles (426 km): roughly 7 h 12 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Distance | 265 mi (426 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PU-100 → PU-621 → PU-620 → PE-34K → PE-34H → PE-34L |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Cusco to La Rinconada drive plays out
PE-3S (121 mi) and PU-100 (46 mi) carry about 63% of the 265 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cusco, Puno. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cusco to La Rinconada, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 8–129 | 121 | Cusco, Puno |
| PU-100 | 129–175 | 46 | Puno |
| local roads | 175–178 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-621 | 178–187 | 9 | Puno |
| PU-620 | 187–193 | 6 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 193–194 | 1 | Puno |
| PE-34K | 194–239 | 45 | Puno |
| PE-34H | 239–254 | 15 | Puno |
| PE-34L | 254–259 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 259–265 | 6 | Puno |
- Mile 110 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
What to see on the way from Cusco to La Rinconada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sillkinchani (mile 8), Ayamachay (mile 66), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 93), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 150)
- Museums and history: Sillkinchani (mile 8), Tipón (mile 14), Ayamachay (mile 66), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 150)
Sillkinchani
About 7 km southeast of Cusco, on an east-facing slope between Saylla and San Jerónimo districts, Sillkinchani is an archaeological site occupied from the Late Intermediate Period through the Late Horizon.
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.
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.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
Mawk'allaqta, Melgar
Mawk'allaqta, a Quechua name meaning "ancient place" and also spelled Maucallacta, is an archaeological site in Nuñoa District, Melgar Province, in Peru's Puno Region.
More drives to La Rinconada
From Cusco to other places in Peru
- Cusco to Abancay
- Cusco to Andahuaylas
- Cusco to Nazca
- Cusco to Ayacucho, Peru
- Cusco to Huancavelica
- Cusco to Pisco
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cusco to La Rinconada?
About 7 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 265 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cusco to La Rinconada?
About 265 miles (426 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 Cusco to La Rinconada drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cusco to La Rinconada?
In order: PE-3S, PU-100, PU-621, PU-620, PE-34K, PE-34H and PE-34L. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cusco and La Rinconada?
Closest to the road: Sillkinchani (archaeological site, mile 8, 0.2 mi from the route); Ayamachay (archaeological site, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (astronomical observatory, mile 93, 0.6 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.