Plan on about 6 h 4 min of driving for the 234-mile (376 km) trip from Juliaca to Chinchero, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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 | 234 mi (376 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Juliaca to Chinchero is like
PE-3S (211 mi) and PE-28F (11 mi) carry about 95% of the 234 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Puno, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Juliaca to Chinchero: the road sequence
| 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 | 215–222 | 7 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 222–233 | 11 | Cusco |
| local roads | 233–234 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 104 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
Places worth a stop between Juliaca and Chinchero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará (mile 39), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 40), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 60), Raqch'i (mile 140), Ayamachay (mile 147), Coricancha (mile 214), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 214)
- Museums and history: Pucará (mile 39), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 40), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 60), Raqch'i (mile 140), Ayamachay (mile 147), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 214)
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.
Raqch'i
Raqch'i, in the Vilcanota valley of Cusco's Canchis province, preserves the Inca temple of Wiracocha, about 92 meters long, along with ceremonial spaces and 156 qolqas, or storehouses, built partly of volcanic stone.
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.
Coricancha
Once the chief temple of the Inca Empire, the Coricancha stands in Cusco, the former imperial capital, and was described by early Spanish colonists.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco
Inside the Palacio del Cabildo on Plaza Regocijo, Cusco's Museo de Arte Contemporáneo hosts temporary shows by Peruvian and international artists alongside a permanent collection of Cusco and Peruvian artists.
Once you reach Chinchero
Lake Piuray
Lake Piuray (Laguna Piuray) lies in the Chinchero district of Cusco, in the Vilcanota range. Its deep blue water is fed by several streams, including the Pongobamba and Huila Huila.
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
More drives to Chinchero
- Písac to Chinchero
- Abancay to Chinchero
- Andahuaylas to Chinchero
- Ayacucho, Peru to Chinchero
- Nazca to Chinchero
- Ica to Chinchero
From Juliaca to other places in Peru
- Juliaca to Písac
- Juliaca to Yucay
- Juliaca to Urubamba
- Juliaca to Maras
- Juliaca to Mollepata
- Juliaca to Cachora
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Juliaca to Chinchero?
About 6 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 234 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juliaca to Chinchero?
About 234 miles (376 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 Juliaca to Chinchero drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Juliaca to Chinchero?
In order: PE-3S and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Juliaca and Chinchero?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 140, 0.4 mi from the route); Coricancha (sun temple, mile 214, 0.4 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.