Maras to Desaguadero is about 359 road miles (578 km): roughly 10 h 56 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 by road | 359 mi (578 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28F → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Maras to Desaguadero drive plays out
PE-3S (297 mi) and PE-34B (13 mi) carry about 86% of the 359 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cusco, Puno. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Maras to Desaguadero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 11–17 | 6 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 17–24 | 7 | Cusco |
| local roads | 24–34 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 34–199 | 165 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 199–202 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 202–206 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 206–213 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 213–226 | 13 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 226–262 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 262–270 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 270–359 | 89 | Puno |
- Mile 136 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 25), Pikillaqta (mile 45), Raqch'i (mile 99), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 179), Pucará (mile 199), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 268), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 268), Molloko (mile 291)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 25), Amaru Marka Wasi (mile 25), Pikillaqta (mile 45), Raqch'i (mile 99), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 179), Pucará (mile 199), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 268), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 268), Molloko (mile 291)
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.
Amaru Marka Wasi
North of the city of Cusco, Amaru Marka Wasi is an archaeological site also known by several other names, including Salunpunku and Templo de la Luna.
Pikillaqta
Pikillaqta, Quechua for "flea place," is a Wari culture archaeological site in Quispicanchi province, in Peru's Cusco region.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Juliaca to Desaguadero
- Chinchero to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Paucartambo to Desaguadero
- Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero
From Maras to other places in Peru
- Maras to Mollepata
- Maras to Huacachina
- Maras to Paracas
- Maras to Andahuaylillas
- Maras to Kiteni
- Maras to Lampa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Maras to Desaguadero?
About 10 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
How far is Desaguadero from Maras by car?
About 359 miles (578 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 Maras to Desaguadero?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Maras to Desaguadero use?
In order: PE-28F, PE-3S, PU-117 and PE-34B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maras to Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Pikillaqta (archaeological site, mile 45, 0.3 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 99, 0.4 mi from the route); Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 179, 0.2 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.