By road, Jauja and Urubamba are about 549 miles (883 km) apart, or roughly 13 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 | 549 mi (883 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 57 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 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Jauja–Urubamba drive in a few lines
PE-28B (319 mi) and PE-3SD (108 mi) carry about 78% of the 549 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Jauja to Urubamba
| 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 | 229–548 | 319 | Ayacucho, Cusco |
| local roads | 548–549 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Junín → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 168 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)
Where to stop on the way to Urubamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (mile 27), Cochapata (mile 469), Huamanmarca, La Convención (mile 475), Pinkuylluna (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), Pinkuylluna (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.
Pinkuylluna
Northeast of Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Pinkuylluna is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name, between the Patakancha and Willkanuta rivers.
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.
Once you reach Urubamba
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.
Yanacocha
Sitting at about 3,951 meters in the Urubamba Province of Cusco, Yanacocha is a lake roughly 240 meters long and 14 meters deep.
Chupani
Chupani is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the Urubamba district north of Cusco, declared national cultural heritage in 2011 and covering about 23 hectares.
More drives to Urubamba
- Ayacucho, Peru to Urubamba
- Huancavelica to Urubamba
- Huancayo to Urubamba
- Paucartambo to Urubamba
- Quillabamba to Urubamba
- Puno to Urubamba
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jauja to Urubamba?
About 13 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
How far is Urubamba from Jauja by car?
About 549 miles (883 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 Urubamba 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.
Which highways go from Jauja to Urubamba?
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.
What are good stops between Jauja and Urubamba?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Catalina Huanca (museum, mile 27, 0.2 mi from the route); Cochapata (archaeological site, mile 469, 0.2 mi from the route); Huamanmarca, La Convención (archaeological site, mile 475, 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.