Puerto Maldonado to Abancay is about 542 road miles (873 km): roughly 16 h 19 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 safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 542 mi (873 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 16 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30C → PE-34B → PU-100 → PE-3S → CU-606 |
| Regions on the route | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Puerto Maldonado to Abancay
PE-3S (216 mi) and PE-30C (112 mi) carry about 61% of the 542 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 7 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Puerto Maldonado to Abancay: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Madre de Dios |
| PE-30C | 2–114 | 112 | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco |
| PE-34B | 114–220 | 106 | Cusco, Puno |
| PU-100 | 220–284 | 64 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 284–405 | 121 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 405–413 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 413–414 | 1 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 414–441 | 27 | Cusco |
| local roads | 441–446 | 5 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 446–464 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 464–473 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 473–541 | 68 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| local roads | 541–542 | 1 | Apurímac |
- Mile 99 of this route: Madre de Dios → Puno (region line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Cusco → Puno (region line)
- Mile 303 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 488 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
Places worth a stop between Puerto Maldonado and Abancay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chichakuri (mile 194), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 263), Raqch'i (mile 339), Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte (mile 414), Killarumiyuq (mile 442), Sayhuite (mile 516)
- Museums and history: Chichakuri (mile 194), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 263), Raqch'i (mile 339), Sirenaqocha (mile 413), Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte (mile 414), Killarumiyuq (mile 442), Sayhuite (mile 516)
Chichakuri
Stone tombs, walls, houses and squares make up Chichakuri, an archaeological site in Peru whose Quechua-Aymara name refers to the chigoe flea.
Mawk'allaqta, Melgar
Mawk'allaqta, a Quechua name meaning "ancient place" and also spelled Maucallacta, is an archaeological site in Nuñoa District, Melgar Province, in Peru's Puno Region.
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.
Sirenaqocha
Sirenaqocha is an Inca archaeological site in Peru that forms part of the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Park.
Museo de Arte Popular del Instituto Americano de Arte
On Avenida Sol in Cusco, at Galerías Turísticas 103, you'll find the Museo de Arte Popular of the American Institute of Art.
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
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.
Once you reach Abancay
Lake Uspaccocha
Inside Ampay National Sanctuary, north of the city of Abancay, Lake Uspaccocha (also Uspaycocha) is an Andean lake at 3,750 meters above sea level.
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.
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.
More drives to Abancay
From Puerto Maldonado to other places in Peru
- Puerto Maldonado to Lampa
- Puerto Maldonado to Chucuito
- Puerto Maldonado to Andahuaylillas
- Puerto Maldonado to Písac
- Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero
- Puerto Maldonado to Yucay
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Maldonado to Abancay?
About 16 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 542 miles.
How far is Abancay from Puerto Maldonado by car?
About 542 miles (873 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 Puerto Maldonado to Abancay?
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 Puerto Maldonado to Abancay?
In order: PE-30C, PE-34B, PU-100, PE-3S and CU-606. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Maldonado and Abancay?
Closest to the road: Chichakuri (archaeological site, mile 194, 0.2 mi from the route); Raqch'i (archaeological site, mile 339, 0.4 mi from the route); Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 516, 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.