Plan on about 12 h 60 min of driving for the 466-mile (750 km) trip from Puerto Maldonado to Desaguadero, before any stops.
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.”
| Total distance | 466 mi (750 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30C → PE-34B → PE-3S |
| Regions on the route | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Puerto Maldonado to Desaguadero is like
PE-34B (218 mi) and PE-3S (125 mi) carry about 74% of the 466 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco. Of the 5 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Maldonado to Desaguadero
| 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 | 114–332 | 218 | Cusco, Puno |
| PE-3S | 332–369 | 37 | Puno |
| local roads | 369–377 | 8 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 377–465 | 88 | Puno |
| local roads | 465–466 | 1 | Puno |
- 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)
Stops between Puerto Maldonado and Desaguadero
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chichakuri (mile 194), Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 348), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 375), Inca Uyo (mile 386), Molloko (mile 398)
- Museums and history: Chichakuri (mile 194), Carlos Dreyer Museum (mile 375), Inca Uyo (mile 386), Molloko (mile 398)
Chichakuri
Stone tombs, walls, houses and squares make up Chichakuri, an archaeological site in Peru whose Quechua-Aymara name refers to the chigoe flea.
Convento Franciscano de Juliaca
Juliaca's Franciscan convent, also called the Convent of Santa Bárbara, sits on Santa Bárbara hill (Hatun Rumi) about 40 meters from the Plaza de Armas. Its architecture is essentially Romanesque in style.
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.
Inca Uyo
Near the Church of Santo Domingo in lakeside Chucuito, Inca Uyo is a rectangular walled enclosure of cut stone holding carved, mushroom-shaped stones. Its original purpose is still debated; Peru declared it national cultural heritage in 2001.
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 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 Desaguadero?
About 12 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 466 miles.
How far is Desaguadero from Puerto Maldonado by car?
About 466 miles (750 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 Desaguadero 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 Desaguadero?
In order: PE-30C, PE-34B and PE-3S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Maldonado and Desaguadero?
Closest to the road: Chichakuri (archaeological site, mile 194, 0.2 mi from the route); Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 348, 0.2 mi from the route); Inca Uyo (archaeological site, mile 386, 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.