Plan on about 11 h 12 min of driving for the 415-mile (668 km) trip from Nazca to Chinchero, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 415 mi (668 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Nazca to Chinchero is like
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (86 mi) carry about 87% of the 415 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Nazca and Chinchero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-30A | 1–278 | 277 | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 278–279 | 1 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 279–283 | 4 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 283–286 | 3 | Apurímac |
| PE-3S | 286–354 | 68 | Apurímac, Cusco |
| local roads | 354–363 | 9 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 363–381 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 381–386 | 5 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 386–404 | 18 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 404–405 | 1 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 405–414 | 9 | Cusco |
| local roads | 414–415 | 1 | Cusco |
- Mile 24 of this route: Ica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Ayacucho → Apurímac (region line)
- Mile 341 of this route: Apurímac → Cusco (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Nazca and Chinchero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (mile 286), Sayhuite (mile 311), Killarumiyuq (mile 386)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 58), Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (mile 286)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Sayhuite (mile 311), Tarahuasi (mile 354), Killarumiyuq (mile 386), Iglesia del Triunfo (mile 405)
Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve
Set in the Lucanas Province of Ayacucho, Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve exists mainly to protect the habitat of the vicuña.
Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac
The Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac is housed in the Casa Hacienda Illanya, a building in Abancay, Peru.
Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay
Abancay Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary, is a Catholic church in Abancay, Apurímac, whose construction probably began around 1645 during the colonial era.
Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa
Perched on a hill about 9 km from Abancay, Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (Mirador de Taraccasa) has play areas, an artificial lagoon, a zoo, a cross and views over the city.
Sayhuite
About 47 kilometers east of Abancay in Peru's Apurímac region, Sayhuite is an archaeological site considered a center of Inca religious worship focused on water.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta 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.
Iglesia del Triunfo
Beside the Cathedral on Cusco's Plaza de Armas, the Catholic Iglesia del Triunfo forms the cathedral complex together with the Cathedral and the Church of the Sagrada Familia.
Arriving in 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
- Ica to Chinchero
- Huancayo to Chinchero
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nazca to Chinchero?
About 11 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 415 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nazca to Chinchero?
About 415 miles (668 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 Nazca to Chinchero drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Nazca to Chinchero?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606 and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nazca to Chinchero?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (museum, mile 283, 0.2 mi from the route); Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (cathedral, mile 285, 0.4 mi from the route); Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 311, 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.