By road, Paucartambo and Desaguadero are about 362 miles (582 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 47 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 | 362 mi (582 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | CU-113 → PE-3S → PU-117 → PE-34B |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Puno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Paucartambo–Desaguadero drive in a few lines
PE-3S (281 mi) and CU-113 (43 mi) carry about 90% of the 362 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cusco, Puno. Of the 8 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Paucartambo and Desaguadero
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cusco |
| CU-113 | 1–44 | 43 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 44–46 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 46–202 | 156 | Cusco, Puno |
| connecting roads | 202–204 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-117 | 204–209 | 5 | Puno |
| local roads | 209–216 | 7 | Puno |
| PE-34B | 216–228 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 228–264 | 36 | Puno |
| local roads | 264–272 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 272–361 | 89 | Puno |
| local roads | 361–362 | 1 | Puno |
- Mile 139 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ninamarca (mile 15), Choquepuquio (mile 47), Raqch'i (mile 102), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 181), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 202), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 270), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 270), Molloko (mile 294)
- Museums and history: Ninamarca (mile 15), Choquepuquio (mile 47), Raqch'i (mile 102), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 181), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 202), Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno (mile 270), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 270), Molloko (mile 294)
Ninamarca
Near the village of Ninamaca, southeast of Colquepata in the Cusco Region's Paucartambo Province, Ninamarca is an archaeological site in Peru.
Choquepuquio
Choquepuquio is an extensive Wari archaeological site in the Cusco valley, in Lucre District near the village of Huacarpay and the lake of the same name.
Raqch'i
Raqch'i, in the Vilcanota valley of Cusco's Canchis province, preserves the Inca temple of Wiracocha, about 92 meters long, along with ceremonial spaces and 156 qolqas, or storehouses, built partly of volcanic stone.
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.
Pukara Lithic Museum
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture office in Puno, the Pukara Lithic Museum (Museo Lítico de Pukara) in the town of Pucará displays monoliths and stone sculptures of the ancient Pukara culture.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo, Puno
On Puno's Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Charles Borromeo was built between 1669 and 1757, with a mestizo Baroque stone facade blending Andean and European art.
Carlos Dreyer Museum
Puno's Carlos Dreyer Museum (Museo Carlos Dreyer) holds about 1,800 pieces and relics spanning the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican eras, in a building declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1980.
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
- Ollantaytambo to Desaguadero
From Paucartambo to other places in Peru
- Paucartambo to Yucay
- Paucartambo to Urubamba
- Paucartambo to Chinchero
- Paucartambo to Mollepata
- Paucartambo to Cachora
- Paucartambo to Lampa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paucartambo to Desaguadero?
About 10 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 362 miles.
What is the driving distance from Paucartambo to Desaguadero?
About 362 miles (582 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 Paucartambo 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 Paucartambo to Desaguadero?
In order: CU-113, 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 Paucartambo and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Choquepuquio (archaeological site, mile 47, 0.3 mi from the route); Templo de San Francisco de Asís (cathedral, mile 181, 0.2 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 202, 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.