Cusco to Pisco is about 549 road miles (884 km): roughly 14 h 49 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.
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 | 549 mi (884 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Cusco to Pisco drive plays out
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-1S (128 mi) carry about 74% of the 549 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cusco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cusco to Pisco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 2–28 | 26 | Cusco |
| local roads | 28–34 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 34–52 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 52–61 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 61–128 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 128–132 | 4 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 132–136 | 4 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 136–137 | 1 | Apurímac |
| PE-30A | 137–414 | 277 | Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica |
| PE-1S | 414–448 | 34 | Ica |
| local roads | 448–452 | 4 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 452–546 | 94 | Ica |
| local roads | 546–549 | 3 | Ica |
- Mile 75 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)
Where to stop on the way to Pisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Killarumiyuq (mile 29), Sayhuite (mile 104), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 129), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 412), Nazca lines (mile 431), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 431), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 502)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 357)
- Museums and history: Killarumiyuq (mile 29), Sayhuite (mile 104), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 129), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 412), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 431), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 502)
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
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.
Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay
Abancay Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary, is a Catholic church in Abancay, Apurímac, whose construction probably began around 1645 during the colonial era.
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).
Acueductos de Achaco
The Achaco Aqueducts form an archaeological landscape of aqueducts in Nasca Province, Ica Region, at about 548 meters above sea level.
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.
St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica
Also called Ica Cathedral, St. Jerome Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Ica, Peru.
More drives to Pisco
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 Paucartambo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cusco to Pisco?
About 14 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cusco to Pisco?
About 549 miles (884 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 Pisco 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). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cusco to Pisco use?
In order: 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 Cusco and Pisco?
Closest to the road: Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 104, 0.3 mi from the route); Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (cathedral, mile 129, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Maria Reiche (museum, mile 431, 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.