Nazca to Písac is about 432 road miles (695 km): roughly 11 h 37 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 432 mi (695 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → PE-28G |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Nazca–Písac drive in a few lines
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (92 mi) carry about 85% of the 432 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nazca to Písac
| 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 |
| local roads | 431–432 | 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)
Places worth a stop between Nazca and Písac
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de Apurímac (mile 283), Virgin of the Rosary Cathedral, Abancay (mile 285), Sayhuite (mile 311), Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco (mile 413), Iglesia del Triunfo (mile 413)
- 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), Sayhuite (mile 311), Tarahuasi (mile 354), Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco (mile 413), Iglesia del Triunfo (mile 413), 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.
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.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco
Facing Cusco's Plaza de Armas, the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús is a historic Jesuit church in the center of the former Inca capital.
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.
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.
Once you reach Písac
Lake Challhuacocha
Inca complex at Písac
Along a mountain ridge above the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley, this Inca complex has agricultural terraces, residences, watchtowers and a ceremonial center, protected as a national archaeological park since 1983.
Inti Watana, Calca
Inti Watana is an archaeological site in the Pisac District of Cusco's Calca Province, located about 9 kilometers from Písac.
More drives to Písac
- Abancay to Písac
- Andahuaylas to Písac
- Ayacucho, Peru to Písac
- Huancavelica to Písac
- Huancayo to Písac
- Ica to Písac
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nazca to Písac?
About 11 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 432 miles.
How far is Písac from Nazca by car?
About 432 miles (695 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 Písac 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 Písac?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606 and PE-28G. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nazca to Písac?
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.