Juliaca to Desaguadero is about 117 road miles (189 km): roughly 3 h 30 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Total distance | 117 mi (189 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S |
| Regions on the route | Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Juliaca to Desaguadero is like
PE-3S (108 mi) carries about 92% of the 117 miles. Of the 5 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Juliaca to Desaguadero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 1–21 | 20 | Puno |
| local roads | 21–29 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 29–117 | 88 | Puno |
Where to stop on the way to Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 26), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 26), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 34), Inca Uyo (mile 38), Molloko (mile 50)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 26), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 26), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 34), Inca Uyo (mile 38), Molloko (mile 50)
Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno
On Puno's Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo was built between 1669 and 1757, with a mestizo Baroque stone facade blending Andean and European art.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
Inka Tunuwiri
Inka Tunuwiri is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, located between the Chucuito and Puno districts, southeast of the village of Ichu.
Inca Uyo
Near the Church of Santo Domingo in lakeside Chucuito, Inca Uyo is a rectangular walled enclosure of cut stone holding carved, mushroom-shaped stones. Its original purpose is still debated; Peru declared it national cultural heritage in 2001.
Molloko
Molloko is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, about 5 kilometers south of the town of Acora, near the village of Molloco.
More drives to Desaguadero
- Puno to Desaguadero
- Chinchero to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Maras to Desaguadero
- Paucartambo to Desaguadero
- Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero
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 Desaguadero?
About 3 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 117 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juliaca to Desaguadero?
About 117 miles (189 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 Desaguadero drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Juliaca and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Carlos Dreyer Museum (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Inka Tunuwiri (archaeological site, mile 34, 0.2 mi from the route); Inca Uyo (archaeological site, mile 38, 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.