Nazca to Yucay is about 419 road miles (675 km): roughly 11 h 17 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.”
| Distance | 419 mi (675 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30A → AP-650 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-111 → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Nazca to Yucay is like
PE-30A (277 mi) and PE-3S (80 mi) carry about 85% of the 419 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 Yucay
| 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 | 398–407 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 407–418 | 11 | Cusco |
| local roads | 418–419 | 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 Yucay
- 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)
- 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), 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.
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.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
Arriving in Yucay
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
Yanacocha
Sitting at about 3,951 meters in the Urubamba Province of Cusco, Yanacocha is a lake roughly 240 meters long and 14 meters deep.
Kellococha
Kellococha is a lake in the Huayllabamba District of Urubamba Province, Cusco Region, known for its polylepis woods, which also grow at neighboring Yanacocha lake.
More drives to Yucay
- Andahuaylas to Yucay
- Ayacucho, Peru to Yucay
- Huancavelica to Yucay
- Huacachina to Yucay
- Huancayo to Yucay
- Paucartambo to Yucay
From Nazca to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nazca to Yucay?
About 11 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 419 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nazca to Yucay?
About 419 miles (675 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 Yucay?
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 Yucay?
In order: PE-30A, AP-650, PE-3S, CU-606, CU-111 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 Yucay?
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.