Plan on about 10 h 15 min of driving for the 448-mile (721 km) trip from Jauja to Quillabamba, before any stops.
- 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance | 448 mi (721 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 15 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 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Jauja to Quillabamba drive plays out
PE-28B (219 mi) and PE-3SD (108 mi) carry about 73% of the 448 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Jauja to Quillabamba: 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 | 229–448 | 219 | Ayacucho, 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)
Stops between Jauja and Quillabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Huancayo (mile 28), Wari Willka (mile 32), Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka (mile 32), Inka Mach'ay (mile 52)
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.
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Huancayo
On the west side of Constitution Square, Huancayo Cathedral is a neoclassical church that preserves paintings from the Cusco School inside.
Wari Willka
Wari Willka, also written Wariwillka, is an archaeological site in Huancán District of Huancayo Province, in Peru's Junín Region.
Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka
In Huancán district of Huancayo Province, Junín, Museo de Sitio de Wari Willka is a Peruvian archaeology museum.
Inka Mach'ay
Inka Mach'ay is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, in the Ñahuimpuquio District of Tayacaja Province.
More drives to Quillabamba
- Cusco to Quillabamba
- Andahuaylas to Quillabamba
- Abancay to Quillabamba
- Tarma to Quillabamba
- Ica to Quillabamba
- Pisco to Quillabamba
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Jauja to Quillabamba?
About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 448 miles.
How far is Quillabamba from Jauja by car?
About 448 miles (721 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 Quillabamba?
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 Jauja to Quillabamba use?
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 Quillabamba?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (museum, mile 27, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Huancayo (cathedral, mile 28, 2 mi from the route); Inka Mach'ay (archaeological site, mile 52, 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.