Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata is about 483 road miles (778 km): roughly 14 h 8 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 483 mi (778 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-30C → PE-34B → PU-100 → PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-109 |
| Regions on the route | Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Puerto Maldonado–Mollepata drive in a few lines
PE-3S (152 mi) and PE-30C (112 mi) carry about 55% of the 483 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata
| 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 | 473–477 | 4 | Cusco |
| CU-109 | 477–483 | 6 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Mollepata
- 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), Inka Museum (mile 414)
- Museums and history: Chichakuri (mile 194), Mawk'allaqta, Melgar (mile 263), Raqch'i (mile 339), Cusilluchayoc (mile 413), Inka Museum (mile 414), Tampukancha (mile 437)
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.
Cusilluchayoc
Also called the Temple of the Monkeys, Cusilluchayoc is an archaeological site in Cusco, half a kilometer from Kenko, where a large rock carries carved animal figures such as snakes and toads.
Inka Museum
Housed by the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, the Inka Museum is the university's archaeological museum, formerly called the Archaeological Museum of the University of Cusco.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
More drives to Mollepata
- Andahuaylas to Mollepata
- Ayacucho, Peru to Mollepata
- Pisco to Mollepata
- Huancayo to Mollepata
- Jauja to Mollepata
- Maras to Mollepata
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 is the drive from Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata?
About 14 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata?
About 483 miles (778 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 Mollepata?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata use?
In order: PE-30C, PE-34B, PU-100, PE-3S, CU-606 and CU-109. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Maldonado to Mollepata?
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); Inka Museum (museum, mile 414, 0.6 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.