Plan on about 14 h 7 min of driving for the 501-mile (807 km) trip from Jauja to Cachora, before any 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 501 mi (807 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 14 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SB → PE-3S → PE-3SD → PE-32A → AY-106 → AP-106 → PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3SV |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Jauja to Cachora is like
PE-32A (110 mi) and PE-3SD (108 mi) carry about 44% of the 501 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Jauja and Cachora
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Junín |
| PE-3SB | 2–37 | 35 | Junín |
| PE-3S | 37–54 | 17 | Junín, Huancavelica |
| PE-3SD | 54–162 | 108 | Huancavelica |
| PE-3S | 162–171 | 9 | Huancavelica, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 171–175 | 4 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 175–177 | 2 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 177–227 | 50 | Ayacucho |
| PE-32A | 227–337 | 110 | Ayacucho |
| AY-106 | 337–350 | 13 | Ayacucho |
| local roads | 350–357 | 7 | Ayacucho |
| AY-106 | 357–376 | 19 | Ayacucho, Apurímac |
| AP-106 | 376–405 | 29 | Apurímac |
| PE-30A | 405–457 | 52 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 457–458 | 1 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 458–462 | 4 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 462–466 | 4 | Apurímac |
| PE-3S | 466–489 | 23 | Apurímac |
| PE-3SV | 489–498 | 9 | Apurímac |
| local roads | 498–501 | 3 | Apurímac |
- Mile 48 of this route: Junín → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 364 of this route: Ayacucho → Apurímac (region line)
Places worth a stop between Jauja and Cachora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Qunchupata, Ayacucho (mile 204), Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 283), Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 462), Usnu Muqu (mile 466)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Wari (mile 195), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 195), Qunchupata, Ayacucho (mile 204), Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres (mile 205), Hatun Usnu (mile 235), Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 283), Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 462), Usnu Muqu (mile 466)
Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca
Run privately, the Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca is an archaeology museum in Pilcomayo District, near the city of Huancayo.
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.
Qunchupata, Ayacucho
Qunchupata is an archaeological zone in Peru's Ayacucho region, in the Ayacucho District of Huamanga Province.
Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres
Housed in the colonial Casa de Vivanco in Ayacucho, this museum honors Andrés Avelino Cáceres, a hero of the War of the Pacific. Its ten exhibition rooms include his personal belongings, military gear and objects recovered from the war.
Hatun Usnu
Hatun Usnu is an archaeological site atop a mountain of the same name in Chiara District, Huamanga Province, Ayacucho.
Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo
Known as the "ancient place" in Quechua, Ñawpallaqta is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho Region, on the border of the Cayara and Huancapi districts in Víctor Fajardo Province.
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.
Once you reach Cachora
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.
Inka Raqay, Apurímac
Inka Raqay (Inkaraqay) is a small archaeological complex in Cachora District, Abancay Province, in Peru's Apurímac Region.
More drives to Cachora
- Andahuaylas to Cachora
- Ayacucho, Peru to Cachora
- Nazca to Cachora
- Ica to Cachora
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huancayo to Cachora
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Jauja to Cachora?
About 14 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
How far is Cachora from Jauja by car?
About 501 miles (807 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 Jauja to Cachora 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.
Which highways go from Jauja to Cachora?
In order: PE-3SB, PE-3S, PE-3SD, PE-32A, AY-106, AP-106, PE-30A, AP-650 and PE-3SV. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Jauja to Cachora?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (museum, mile 27, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (museum, mile 462, 0.2 mi from the route); Usnu Muqu (archaeological site, mile 466, 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.