Plan on about 9 h 44 min of driving for the 343-mile (552 km) trip from Puno to Cachora, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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 | 343 mi (552 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → CU-606 → AP-116 |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco, Apurímac |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Puno–Cachora drive in a few lines
PE-3S (282 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 87% of the 343 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Puno, Cusco, Apurímac. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Puno to Cachora
| 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 | 300–327 | 27 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| AP-116 | 327–341 | 14 | Apurímac |
| local roads | 341–343 | 2 | Apurímac |
- Mile 130 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
Places worth a stop between Puno and Cachora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 27), Pucará (mile 65), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 86), Observatorio Astronómico «María Luisa Aguilar» (mile 147), Ayamachay (mile 173), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Pucará (mile 65), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 86), Ayamachay (mile 173), Sirenaqocha (mile 240), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (mile 240), Tampukancha (mile 264), Tarahuasi (mile 300)
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.
Pucará
Above the highland town of Pucará, this pre-Inca complex of the Pucará culture centers on Kalasaya, a pyramid of stone monoliths with carved human heads jutting from its walls. The Museo Lítico Pucará stands on the main plaza.
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.
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.
Ayamachay
Ayamachay is an archaeological site with rock paintings in the Combapata District of Cusco's Canchis Province, above the left bank of the Salcca River near the village of Oroscocha.
Sirenaqocha
Sirenaqocha is an Inca archaeological site in Peru that forms part of the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Park.
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.
Tampukancha
Tampukancha is an Inca religious center in the Zurite District of Anta Province, about 30 miles from Cusco.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Arriving in Cachora
Inka Raqay, Apurímac
Inka Raqay (Inkaraqay) is a small archaeological complex in Cachora District, Abancay Province, in Peru's Apurímac 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.
More drives to Cachora
- Andahuaylas to Cachora
- Ayacucho, Peru to Cachora
- Nazca to Cachora
- Ica to Cachora
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huancayo to Cachora
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 Cachora?
About 9 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 343 miles.
How far is Cachora from Puno by car?
About 343 miles (552 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 Cachora drive?
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 Puno to Cachora use?
In order: PE-3S, CU-606 and AP-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puno and Cachora?
Closest to the road: Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (convent, mile 27, 0.3 mi from the route); Pucará (archaeological site, mile 65, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cusco (museum, mile 240, 0.5 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.