Plan on about 12 h 53 min of driving for the 521-mile (838 km) trip from Puno to Nazca, 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.”
| Distance by road | 521 mi (838 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PU-121 → PU-1044 → PE-34A → AR-114 → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Arequipa, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Puno to Nazca
PE-1S (319 mi) and PE-34A (137 mi) carry about 88% of the 521 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Puno, Arequipa, Ica. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Puno and Nazca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 2–12 | 10 | Puno |
| PU-121 | 12–17 | 5 | Puno |
| connecting roads | 17–19 | 2 | Puno |
| PU-1044 | 19–22 | 3 | Puno |
| PU-121 | 22–34 | 12 | Puno |
| PE-34A | 34–171 | 137 | Puno, Arequipa |
| local roads | 171–180 | 9 | Arequipa |
| AR-114 | 180–201 | 21 | Arequipa |
| PE-1S | 201–520 | 319 | Arequipa, Ica |
| local roads | 520–521 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 87 of this route: Puno → Arequipa (region line)
- Mile 490 of this route: Arequipa → Ica (region line)
Stops between Puno and Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (mile 460)
- Nature and outdoors: Yura Hot Springs (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Sillustani (mile 19), Historic Centre of Arequipa (mile 175), Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (mile 460)
Sillustani
On the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Sillustani is a pre-Inca burial site with tower-like tombs called chullpas, left by the Qulla people.
Yura Hot Springs
Roughly 28 km north-northwest of Arequipa, the Yura Hot Springs (Baños termales de Yura) are a thermal bathing complex in the Yura district.
Historic Centre of Arequipa
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2000, the Historic Centre of Arequipa is noted for ornamented architecture that blends European and native characteristics.
Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco
Part of San Marcos University's museums, the Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco is a site museum of paleontology in the Bella Unión district of Caravelí, Arequipa.
When you get to Nazca
Cantalloc Aqueducts
About 3 km east of Nazca, the Cantalloc Aqueducts are part of a system of more than 40 aqueducts built by the Nazca culture and used year-round.
Los Paredones
Near Nazca, Los Paredones is an Inca site that served as an administrative control center between coast and highlands under Túpac Yupanqui, built of adobe on carved stone bases.
Acueductos de Achaco
The Achaco Aqueducts form an archaeological landscape of aqueducts in Nasca Province, Ica Region, at about 548 meters above sea level.
More drives to Nazca
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 Nazca?
About 12 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
How far is Nazca from Puno by car?
About 521 miles (838 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 Nazca 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 Nazca use?
In order: PE-3S, PU-121, PU-1044, PE-34A, AR-114 and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puno and Nazca?
Closest to the road: Sillustani (archaeological site, mile 19, 1 mi from the route); Yura Hot Springs (hot spring, mile 165, 1 mi from the route); Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (paleontological museum, mile 460, 0.9 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.