By road, Ollantaytambo and Desaguadero are about 370 miles (596 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 11 min of driving.
Full advisory: 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 | 370 mi (596 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero is like
PE-3S (281 mi) and PE-28B (55 mi) carry about 91% of the 370 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cusco, Puno. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–55 | 55 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 55–211 | 156 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 211–213 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 213–217 | 4 | Puno |
| local roads | 217–224 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 224–237 | 13 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 237–273 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 273–281 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 281–370 | 89 | Puno |
- Mile 147 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
Places worth a stop between Ollantaytambo and Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Inkariy Museum (mile 22), Rumicolca (mile 57), Ayamachay (mile 103), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 130), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 190), Pucará (mile 211), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 286), Molloko (mile 303)
- Museums and history: Inkariy Museum (mile 22), Huchuy Qosqo (mile 28), Rumicolca (mile 57), Ayamachay (mile 103), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 190), Pucará (mile 211), Inka Tunuwiri (mile 286), Molloko (mile 303)
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca archaeological site north of Cusco whose Quechua name means "Little Cusco."
Rumicolca
Rumicolca is an archaeological site in Peru's Cusco Region, found in Lucre District of Quispicanchi Province.
Ayamachay
Ayamachay is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Combapata District of Cusco's Canchis Province, above the left bank of the Salcca River near the village of Oroscocha.
Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar»
Run by the National University of San Marcos, this astronomical observatory serves both educational and tourism purposes and sits at an altitude of 4,027 meters.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Facing Ayaviri's main square, the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is an Andean Baroque church more than three centuries old. Look for its columned facade and 18th-century religious paintings by Isidoro Francisco de Moncada.
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
Inka Tunuwiri
Inka Tunuwiri is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, located between the Chucuito and Puno districts, southeast of the village of Ichu.
Molloko
Molloko is an archaeological site in Peru's Puno Province, about 5 kilometers south of the town of Acora, near the village of Molloco.
More drives to Desaguadero
- Puno to Desaguadero
- Juliaca to Desaguadero
- Chinchero to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Maras to Desaguadero
- Paucartambo to Desaguadero
From Ollantaytambo to other places in Peru
- Ollantaytambo to Mollepata
- Ollantaytambo to Andahuaylillas
- Ollantaytambo to Lampa
- Ollantaytambo to Chucuito
- Ollantaytambo to Coroico, Bolivia
- Ollantaytambo to Sorata, Bolivia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero?
About 11 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 370 miles.
How far is Desaguadero from Ollantaytambo by car?
About 370 miles (596 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 Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero?
In order: PE-28B, PE-3S, PU-117 and PE-34B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ollantaytambo and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Inkariy Museum (museum, mile 22, 0.2 mi from the route); Rumicolca (archaeological site, mile 57, 0.1 mi from the route); Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 190, 0.1 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.