The Wayro route from Nazca to Paucartambo is 472 miles (759 km), about 12 h 48 min of driving without 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 | 472 mi (759 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → PE-28G → CU-112 |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
On the road from Nazca to Paucartambo
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (92 mi) carry about 78% of the 472 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nazca to Paucartambo
| 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 | 386–410 | 24 | Cusco |
| local roads | 410–415 | 5 | Cusco |
| PE-28G | 415–431 | 16 | Cusco |
| CU-112 | 431–451 | 20 | Cusco |
| local roads | 451–455 | 4 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 455–459 | 4 | Cusco |
| CU-112 | 459–471 | 12 | Cusco |
| local roads | 471–472 | 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 Paucartambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Iglesia y monasterio de Santa Teresa (mile 412)
- 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), Rumiwasi (mile 419)
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.
Iglesia y monasterio de Santa Teresa
The Discalced Carmelite Monastery of San José y Santa Teresa, known locally as the Convento de Santa Teresa, is a religious complex in Cusco that keeps a cloistered convent and a church.
Rumiwasi
Also known as Phaqchayuq, Rumiwasi is an archaeological site in San Sebastián District of Cusco Province, located north of the central square of San Sebastián.
More drives to Paucartambo
- Cusco to Paucartambo
- Abancay to Paucartambo
- Andahuaylas to Paucartambo
- Ayacucho, Peru to Paucartambo
- Ica to Paucartambo
- Quillabamba to Paucartambo
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nazca to Paucartambo?
About 12 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 472 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nazca to Paucartambo?
About 472 miles (759 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 Paucartambo?
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 Paucartambo?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606, PE-28G and CU-112. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nazca and Paucartambo?
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); Iglesia y monasterio de Santa Teresa (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 412, 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.