The Wayro route from Mollepata to Desaguadero is 404 miles (650 km), about 12 h 13 min of driving without stops.
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 | 404 mi (650 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | CU-109 → PE-3S → CU-606 → PU-117 → PE-34B |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Mollepata–Desaguadero drive in a few lines
PE-3S (322 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 84% of the 404 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cusco, Puno. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Mollepata to Desaguadero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU-109 | 0–6 | 6 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 6–10 | 4 | Cusco |
| local roads | 10–19 | 9 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 19–37 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 37–42 | 5 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 42–69 | 27 | Cusco |
| local roads | 69–79 | 10 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 79–245 | 166 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 245–247 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 247–251 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 251–258 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 258–270 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 270–307 | 37 | Puno |
| local roads | 307–315 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 315–403 | 88 | Puno |
| local roads | 403–404 | 1 | Puno |
- Mile 180 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
What to see on the way from Mollepata to Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 70), Coricancha (mile 70), Pikillaqta (mile 90), Raqch'i (mile 144), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 224), Pucará (mile 244), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 313), Molloko (mile 336)
- Museums and history: Tarahuasi (mile 10), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 70), Pikillaqta (mile 90), Raqch'i (mile 144), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 224), Pucará (mile 244), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 313), Molloko (mile 336)
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Regional Historical Museum of Cusco
The Regional Historical Museum of Cusco occupies the house where chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was born and lived, in the city of Cusco.
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.
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.
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
- Maras to Desaguadero
- Paucartambo to Desaguadero
From Mollepata to other places in Peru
- Mollepata to Huacachina
- Mollepata to Paracas
- Mollepata to Andahuaylillas
- Mollepata to Kiteni
- Mollepata to Lampa
- Mollepata to Chucuito
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mollepata to Desaguadero?
About 12 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 404 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mollepata to Desaguadero?
About 404 miles (650 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 Mollepata to Desaguadero?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Mollepata to Desaguadero?
In order: CU-109, PE-3S, CU-606, PU-117 and PE-34B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mollepata and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Pikillaqta (archaeological site, mile 90, 0.2 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 144, 0.4 mi from the route); Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 224, 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.