Juliaca to Urubamba is about 238 road miles (383 km): roughly 6 h 9 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 238 mi (383 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PE-28B |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Juliaca to Urubamba: the shape of the trip
PE-3S (194 mi) and PE-28B (43 mi) carry about 100% of the 238 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Puno, Cusco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Juliaca to Urubamba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 1–195 | 194 | Puno, Cusco |
| PE-28B | 195–238 | 43 | Cusco |
- Mile 104 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
What to see on the way from Juliaca to Urubamba
- 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), Pikillaqta (mile 194), Inkariy Museum (mile 228)
- 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), Pikillaqta (mile 194), Inkariy Museum (mile 228)
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.
Pikillaqta
Pikillaqta, Quechua for "flea place," is a Wari culture archaeological site in Quispicanchi province, in Peru's Cusco region.
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.
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Urubamba
- Ayacucho, Peru to Urubamba
- Huancavelica to Urubamba
- Huancayo to Urubamba
- Jauja to Urubamba
- Paucartambo to Urubamba
- Quillabamba to Urubamba
From Juliaca to other places in Peru
- Juliaca to Písac
- Juliaca to Chinchero
- Juliaca to Yucay
- Juliaca to Maras
- Juliaca to Mollepata
- Juliaca to Cachora
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Juliaca to Urubamba?
About 6 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 238 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juliaca to Urubamba?
About 238 miles (383 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 Urubamba 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 Urubamba?
In order: PE-3S and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Juliaca to Urubamba?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); Pikillaqta (archaeological site, mile 194, 0.3 mi from the route); Inkariy Museum (museum, mile 228, 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.