By road, Puerto Maldonado and Chinchero are about 434 miles (698 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 38 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 434 mi (698 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30C → PE-34B → PU-100 → PE-3S → PE-28F |
| Regions on the route | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero: the shape of the trip
PE-3S (128 mi) and PE-30C (112 mi) carry about 55% of the 434 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero
| 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 | 414–421 | 7 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 421–432 | 11 | Cusco |
| local roads | 432–434 | 2 | Cusco |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chichakuri (mile 194), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 263), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 319), Raqch'i (mile 339), Iglesia de la Recoleta (mile 413), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 414), Siete bateas (mile 417)
- Museums and history: Chichakuri (mile 194), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 263), Raqch'i (mile 339), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 414), Siete bateas (mile 417)
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.
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.
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.
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco
Inside the Palacio del Cabildo on Plaza Regocijo, Cusco's Museo de Arte Contemporáneo hosts temporary shows by Peruvian and international artists alongside a permanent collection of Cusco and Peruvian artists.
Siete bateas
Within the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Park in Cusco, Siete Bateas sits on the left bank of the Chakán River, at the foot of a ravine tied to an Inca-era hydraulic, landscape and ritual system.
In Chinchero itself
Lake Piuray
Lake Piuray (Laguna Piuray) lies in the Chinchero district of Cusco, in the Vilcanota range. Its deep blue water is fed by several streams, including the Pongobamba and Huila Huila.
Machu Colca
A few minutes outside Chinchero, Machu Colca (Machu Qollqa) is an archaeological site in Huayllabamba District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region.
More drives to Chinchero
- Písac to Chinchero
- Abancay to Chinchero
- Andahuaylas to Chinchero
- Ayacucho, Peru to Chinchero
- Nazca to Chinchero
- Ica to Chinchero
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 Yucay
- Puerto Maldonado to Urubamba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero?
About 12 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 434 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero?
About 434 miles (698 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 Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero?
In order: PE-30C, PE-34B, PU-100, PE-3S and PE-28F. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Maldonado to Chinchero?
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); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (museum, mile 414, 0.4 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.