By road, Huacachina and Kiteni are about 422 miles (679 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 57 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 422 mi (679 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-C-107 → I-C-106 → HV-118 → HV-122 → HV-121 → PE-28A → PE-3S → PE-28B |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Huacachina to Kiteni: the shape of the trip
PE-28B (193 mi) and PE-28A (100 mi) carry about 69% of the 422 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huacachina to Kiteni, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Ica |
| I-C-107 | 4–11 | 7 | Ica |
| I-C-106 | 11–39 | 28 | Ica |
| HV-118 | 39–86 | 47 | Ica, Huancavelica |
| HV-122 | 86–105 | 19 | Huancavelica |
| HV-121 | 105–114 | 9 | Huancavelica |
| PE-28A | 114–214 | 100 | Huancavelica, Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 214–216 | 2 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 216–222 | 6 | Ayacucho |
| local roads | 222–229 | 7 | Ayacucho |
| PE-28B | 229–422 | 193 | Ayacucho, Cusco |
- Mile 40 of this route: Ica → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 169 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
Places worth a stop between Huacachina and Kiteni
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto (mile 214), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 215), Wichqana (mile 219), Museo de sitio de Quinua (mile 231)
- Museums and history: Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto (mile 214), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 215), Wichqana (mile 219), Wari (mile 227), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 227), Museo de sitio de Quinua (mile 231)
Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto
Carmen Alto's monumental zone is the historic core of Carmen Alto district in Huamanga province, Ayacucho, recognized as part of Peru's national cultural heritage since December 1989.
Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita"
In Ayacucho, the Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" remembers the years of terrorism in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s. Families of the disappeared (ANFASEP) built it, opening it in October 2005.
Wichqana
Wichqana is an archaeological site in Ayacucho District, Huamanga Province, in Peru's Ayacucho Region.
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 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.
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 Kiteni
From Huacachina to other places in Peru
- Huacachina to La Merced
- Huacachina to Puerto Ocopa
- Huacachina to Huanchaco
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huacachina to Yucay
- Huacachina to Andahuaylillas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huacachina to Kiteni?
About 11 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 422 miles.
How far is Kiteni from Huacachina by car?
About 422 miles (679 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 Huacachina to Kiteni 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 Huacachina to Kiteni use?
In order: I-C-107, I-C-106, HV-118, HV-122, HV-121, PE-28A, PE-3S and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huacachina to Kiteni?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (museum, mile 215, 0.6 mi from the route); Wichqana (archaeological site, mile 219, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de sitio de Quinua (museum, mile 231, 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.