Plan on about 11 h 10 min of driving for the 411-mile (662 km) trip from Nazca to Maras, 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.”
| Total distance | 411 mi (662 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-111 |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Nazca to Maras: the shape of the trip
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (80 mi) carry about 87% of the 411 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nazca to Maras
| 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 | 386–398 | 12 | Cusco |
| CU-111 | 398–406 | 8 | Cusco |
| local roads | 406–411 | 5 | 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)
Stops between Nazca and Maras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Usnu Muqu (mile 286), Sayhuite (mile 311), Killarumiyuq (mile 386)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 58)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Usnu Muqu (mile 286), Sayhuite (mile 311), Tarahuasi (mile 354), Killarumiyuq (mile 386), Tampukancha (mile 390)
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.
Usnu Muqu
Usnu Muqu is an archaeological site near the main square of Tamburco, in Abancay Province of Peru's Apurímac Region.
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.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
When you get to Maras
Moray
About 50 km northwest of Cusco and just west of Maras, Moray sits on a plateau at roughly 3,500 meters. Its Inca ruins are mainly terraced circular depressions, the largest about 30 meters deep.
Quispiguanca
Quispiguanca, also written Q'espihuanca or Q'espiwanka, was a royal estate of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac.
Ayawayq'u
Ayawayq'u, also known as Yukay or Kapillayuq, is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Yucay District of Urubamba Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
More drives to Maras
- Abancay to Maras
- Andahuaylas to Maras
- Ayacucho, Peru to Maras
- Huancavelica to Maras
- Ica to Maras
- Huancayo to Maras
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nazca to Maras?
About 11 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
How far is Maras from Nazca by car?
About 411 miles (662 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 Maras 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.
What roads does the drive from Nazca to Maras use?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606 and CU-111. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nazca to Maras?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (museum, mile 283, 0.2 mi from the route); Usnu Muqu (archaeological site, mile 286, 0.1 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.