Puno to Abancay is about 368 road miles (593 km): roughly 10 h 27 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 368 mi (593 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → CU-606 |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Puno–Abancay drive in a few lines
PE-3S (322 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 92% of the 368 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Puno to Abancay: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 2–231 | 229 | Puno, Cusco |
| local roads | 231–239 | 8 | Cusco |
| connecting roads | 239–241 | 2 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 241–267 | 26 | Cusco |
| local roads | 267–273 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 273–291 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 291–300 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 300–367 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| local roads | 367–368 | 1 | Apurímac |
- Mile 130 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Abancay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 27), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 66), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 86), Raqch'i (mile 166), Museo de Arte Religioso del Cusco (mile 240), Sayhuite (mile 343)
- Museums and history: Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 66), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 86), Raqch'i (mile 166), Tipón (mile 226), Museo de Arte Religioso del Cusco (mile 240), Salonniyoq (mile 243), Tarahuasi (mile 300), Sayhuite (mile 343)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tipón
About 22 km southeast of Cusco near the village of Tipón, this early 15th-century Inca site spreads between 3,250 and 3,960 meters and is enclosed by a defensive wall about 6 km long.
Museo de Arte Religioso del Cusco
Set in the Archbishop's Palace in Cusco, this museum holds colonial religious art of the Cusco School, and the famous Twelve-Angled Stone sits in its outer foundations.
Salonniyoq
Inside the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, the Salonniyoq archaeological site spreads across mostly flat ground on both banks of the Chakán River at the foot of a hill.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo 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.
When you get to 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.
Usnu Muqu
Usnu Muqu is an archaeological site near the main square of Tamburco, in Abancay Province of Peru's Apurímac Region.
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.
More drives to Abancay
- Pisco to Abancay
- Huancayo to Abancay
- Lima to Abancay
- Cusco to Abancay
- Juliaca to Abancay
- Puerto Maldonado to Abancay
From Puno to other places in Peru
- Puno to Andahuaylillas
- Puno to Chinchero
- Puno to Yucay
- Puno to Urubamba
- Puno to Maras
- Puno to Paucartambo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puno to Abancay?
About 10 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 368 miles.
How far is Abancay from Puno by car?
About 368 miles (593 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 Puno to Abancay drive?
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 Puno to Abancay?
In order: PE-3S and CU-606. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puno to Abancay?
Closest to the road: Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 27, 0.3 mi from the route); Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 66, 0.2 mi from the route); Sayhuite (archaeological site, mile 343, 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.