By road, Jauja and Maras are about 551 miles (887 km) apart, or roughly 14 h 6 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 551 mi (887 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 14 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SB → PE-3S → PE-3SD → AY-100 → PE-28B |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Jauja to Maras
PE-28B (312 mi) and PE-3SD (108 mi) carry about 76% of the 551 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Jauja to Maras: the road sequence
| 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 |
| AY-100 | 175–196 | 21 | Ayacucho |
| local roads | 196–229 | 33 | Ayacucho |
| PE-28B | 229–541 | 312 | Ayacucho, Cusco |
| local roads | 541–551 | 10 | Cusco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Junín → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 285 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
What to see on the way from Jauja to Maras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Cochapata (mile 469), Huamanmarca, La Convención (mile 475), Templo del Sol (mile 536), Inkapintay (mile 537)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka (mile 32), Cochapata (mile 469), Huamanmarca, La Convención (mile 475), Templo del Sol (mile 536), Inkapintay (mile 537), Ñaupa Iglesia (mile 540)
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.
Torre Torre
About 1,500 m from Huancayo, Torre Torre is a group of clay earth towers, or hoodoos, carved by rain erosion, some rising more than 30 m high.
Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka
In Huancán district of Huancayo Province, Junín, Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka is a Peruvian archaeology museum.
Cochapata
Cochapata, also spelled Qochapata, is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco region, located in Huayopata District of La Convención Province.
Huamanmarca, La Convención
On the right bank of the Luq'umayu in Huayopata District, La Convención Province, Huamanmarca is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco region.
Templo del Sol
Templo del Sol sits in Ollantaytambo District, about 80 km northeast of Cusco and 40 km from Machu Picchu, at roughly 2,792 meters above sea level.
Inkapintay
Near Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Inkapintay is an archaeological site with a rock painting; its Quechua name means "Inka painting."
Ñaupa Iglesia
Near Ollantaytambo, Ñaupa Iglesia is an Inca archaeological site regarded as a huaca and astronomical observatory, where imperial stonework blends with natural rock formations.
In Maras itself
Moray
About 50 km northwest of Cusco and just west of Maras, Moray sits on a plateau at roughly 3,500 meters. Its Inca ruins are mainly terraced circular depressions, the largest about 30 meters deep.
Quispiguanca
Quispiguanca, also written Q'espihuanca or Q'espiwanka, was a royal estate of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac.
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 Maras
- Abancay to Maras
- Andahuaylas to Maras
- Ayacucho, Peru to Maras
- Nazca to Maras
- Huancavelica to Maras
- Ica to Maras
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jauja to Maras?
About 14 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
How far is Maras from Jauja by car?
About 551 miles (887 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 Jauja to Maras?
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.
Which highways go from Jauja to Maras?
In order: PE-3SB, PE-3S, PE-3SD, AY-100 and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Jauja to Maras?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (museum, mile 27, 0.2 mi from the route); Huamanmarca, La Convención (archaeological site, mile 475, 0.1 mi from the route); Inkapintay (archaeological site, mile 537, 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.