Plan on about 11 h 21 min of driving for the 414-mile (666 km) trip from Nazca to Ollantaytambo, 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 | 414 mi (666 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-110 → PE-28B |
| 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 | 7 |
On the road from Nazca to Ollantaytambo
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (73 mi) carry about 85% of the 414 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Nazca to Ollantaytambo
| 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 | 386–391 | 5 | Cusco |
| local roads | 391–399 | 8 | Cusco |
| CU-110 | 399–410 | 11 | Cusco |
| PE-28B | 410–414 | 4 | 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 Ollantaytambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Tampukancha (mile 394), Wat'a, Cusco (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 58)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Tarahuasi (mile 354), Tampukancha (mile 394), Wat'a, Cusco (mile 400), Moray (mile 406)
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.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo 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.
Wat'a, Cusco
Wat'a is an archaeological zone in Peru's Cusco Region, located in Anta Province's Huarocondo District, north of the town of Huarocondo.
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.
Arriving in Ollantaytambo
Ñaupa Iglesia
Near Ollantaytambo, Ñaupa Iglesia is an Inca archaeological site regarded as a huaca and astronomical observatory, where imperial stonework blends with natural rock formations.
Pinkuylluna
Northeast of Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Pinkuylluna is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name, between the Patakancha and Willkanuta rivers.
Templo del Sol
Templo del Sol sits in Ollantaytambo District, about 80 km northeast of Cusco and 40 km from Machu Picchu, at roughly 2,792 meters above sea level.
More drives to Ollantaytambo
- Abancay to Ollantaytambo
- Andahuaylas to Ollantaytambo
- Ayacucho, Peru to Ollantaytambo
- Huancavelica to Ollantaytambo
- Ica to Ollantaytambo
- Huancayo to Ollantaytambo
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nazca to Ollantaytambo?
About 11 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 414 miles.
How far is Ollantaytambo from Nazca by car?
About 414 miles (666 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 Nazca to Ollantaytambo?
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 Ollantaytambo use?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606, CU-110 and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nazca and Ollantaytambo?
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); Tampukancha (archaeological site, mile 394, 0.4 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.