The Wayro route from Huacachina to Yucay is 508 miles (818 km), about 13 h 39 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance | 508 mi (818 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-111 → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Huacachina to Yucay drive plays out
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-1S (84 mi) carry about 71% of the 508 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Huacachina to Yucay
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 2–52 | 50 | Ica |
| local roads | 52–56 | 4 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 56–90 | 34 | Ica |
| PE-30A | 90–367 | 277 | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 367–368 | 1 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 368–372 | 4 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 372–375 | 3 | Apurímac |
| PE-3S | 375–442 | 67 | Apurímac, Cusco |
| local roads | 442–452 | 10 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 452–470 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 470–475 | 5 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 475–487 | 12 | Cusco |
| CU-111 | 487–496 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 496–506 | 10 | Cusco |
| local roads | 506–508 | 2 | Cusco |
- Mile 113 of this route: Ica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Ayacucho → Apurímac (region line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Apurímac → Cusco (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huacachina and Yucay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Maria Reiche (mile 72), Nazca lines (mile 73), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 91), Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 372), Usnu Muqu (mile 375)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 147)
- Museums and history: Pernil Alto (mile 56), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 72), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 91), Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 372), Usnu Muqu (mile 375), Tarahuasi (mile 442), Tampukancha (mile 478)
Pernil Alto
At Pernil Alto, in the Río Grande District of Palpa province, archaeologists have traced how the site's inhabitants took up agriculture between about 3800 and 3000 BCE.
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.
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 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).
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 y Antropológico de Apurímac
The Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac is housed in the Casa Hacienda Illanya, a building in Abancay, Peru.
Usnu Muqu
Usnu Muqu is an archaeological site near the main square of Tamburco, in Abancay Province of Peru's Apurímac Region.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
Arriving in Yucay
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
Kellococha
Kellococha is a lake in the Huayllabamba District of Urubamba Province, Cusco Region, known for its polylepis woods, which also grow at neighboring Yanacocha lake.
Ayawayq'u
Ayawayq'u, also known as Yukay or Kapillayuq, is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Yucay District of Urubamba Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
More drives to Yucay
- Andahuaylas to Yucay
- Ayacucho, Peru to Yucay
- Nazca to Yucay
- Huancavelica to Yucay
- Huancayo to Yucay
- Paucartambo to Yucay
From Huacachina to other places in Peru
- Huacachina to La Merced
- Huacachina to Puerto Ocopa
- Huacachina to Huanchaco
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huacachina to Andahuaylillas
- Huacachina to Kiteni
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huacachina to Yucay?
About 13 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 508 miles.
How far is Yucay from Huacachina by car?
About 508 miles (818 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 Huacachina to Yucay?
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 Huacachina to Yucay use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606, CU-111 and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huacachina and Yucay?
Closest to the road: Museo Maria Reiche (museum, mile 72, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (museum, mile 372, 0.2 mi from the route); Usnu Muqu (archaeological site, mile 375, 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.