Puno to Mollepata is about 310 road miles (499 km): roughly 8 h 15 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 safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance | 310 mi (499 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → CU-606 → CU-109 |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Puno to Mollepata is like
PE-3S (258 mi) and CU-606 (18 mi) carry about 89% of the 310 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Puno, Cusco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Puno to Mollepata
| 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 | 300–303 | 3 | Cusco |
| CU-109 | 303–310 | 7 | Cusco |
- Mile 130 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
What to see on the way from Puno to Mollepata
- 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 165), Pikillaqta (mile 220), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 240), Killarumiyuq (mile 268)
- Museums and history: Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 66), Templo de San Francisco de Asís (mile 86), Raqch'i (mile 165), Pikillaqta (mile 220), Regional Historical Museum of Cusco (mile 240), Chakan (mile 243), Killarumiyuq (mile 268)
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.
Pikillaqta
Pikillaqta, Quechua for "flea place," is a Wari culture archaeological site in Quispicanchi province, in Peru's Cusco region.
Regional Historical Museum of Cusco
The Regional Historical Museum of Cusco occupies the house where chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was born and lived, in the city of Cusco.
Chakan
Chakan is an Inca-era archaeological site that belongs to the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru.
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
More drives to Mollepata
- Andahuaylas to Mollepata
- Ayacucho, Peru to Mollepata
- Pisco to Mollepata
- Huancayo to Mollepata
- Jauja to Mollepata
- Maras to Mollepata
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 does it take to drive from Puno to Mollepata?
About 8 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 310 miles.
How far is Mollepata from Puno by car?
About 310 miles (499 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 Mollepata drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puno to Mollepata?
In order: 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 Puno to Mollepata?
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); Pikillaqta (archaeological site, mile 220, 0.2 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.