Plan on about 9 h 46 min of driving for the 342-mile (551 km) trip from Juliaca to Abancay, 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → CU-606 |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Juliaca to Abancay is like
PE-3S (297 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 92% of the 342 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 9 stops listed below, 9 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Juliaca and Abancay
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 1–205 | 204 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 205–213 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 213–215 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 215–241 | 26 | Cusco |
| local roads | 241–247 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 247–265 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 265–274 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 274–341 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| local roads | 341–342 | 1 | Apurímac |
- Mile 104 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 288 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
What to see on the way from Juliaca to Abancay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará (mile 39), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 40), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 60), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 121), Ayamachay (mile 147), Iglesia de la Recoleta (mile 213), Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco (mile 214), Quespewara (mile 217), Sayhuite (mile 316)
- Museums and history: Pucará (mile 39), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 40), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 60), Ayamachay (mile 147), Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco (mile 214), Quespewara (mile 217), Sayhuite (mile 316)
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Facing Ayaviri's main square, the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is an Andean Baroque church more than three centuries old. Look for its columned facade and 18th-century religious paintings by Isidoro Francisco de Moncada.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
Ayamachay
Ayamachay is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Combapata District of Cusco's Canchis Province, above the left bank of the Salcca River near the village of Oroscocha.
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco
Facing Cusco's Plaza de Armas, the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús is a historic Jesuit church in the center of the former Inca capital.
Quespewara
Inside the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Park, Quespewara (Qhespehuara) is an archaeological site 3 km north of Cusco's main square, sitting at 3,565 meters in the northwestern Cusco Valley.
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.
Once you reach Abancay
Lake Uspaccocha
Inside Ampay National Sanctuary, north of the city of Abancay, Lake Uspaccocha (also Uspaycocha) is an Andean lake at 3,750 meters above sea level.
Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay
Abancay Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary, is a Catholic church in Abancay, Apurímac, whose construction probably began around 1645 during the colonial era.
Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa
Perched on a hill about 9 km from Abancay, Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (Mirador de Taraccasa) has play areas, an artificial lagoon, a zoo, a cross and views over the city.
More drives to Abancay
- Pisco to Abancay
- Huancayo to Abancay
- Lima to Abancay
- Cusco to Abancay
- Puno to Abancay
- Puerto Maldonado to Abancay
From Juliaca to other places in Peru
- Juliaca to Písac
- Juliaca to Chinchero
- Juliaca to Yucay
- Juliaca to Urubamba
- Juliaca to Maras
- Juliaca to Mollepata
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Juliaca to Abancay?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juliaca to Abancay?
About 342 miles (551 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 Juliaca to Abancay?
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 Juliaca to Abancay?
In order: PE-3S and CU-606. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Juliaca to Abancay?
Closest to the road: Pucará (archaeological site, mile 39, 0.4 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 316, 0.3 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.