Plan on about 7 h 14 min of driving for the 276-mile (444 km) trip from Puno to Ollantaytambo, before any stops.
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.”
| Distance | 276 mi (444 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → PE-28B |
| Regions on the route | Puno, Cusco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Puno to Ollantaytambo is like
PE-3S (219 mi) and PE-28B (55 mi) carry about 99% of the 276 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Puno, Cusco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Puno to Ollantaytambo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Puno |
| PE-3S | 2–221 | 219 | Puno, Cusco |
| PE-28B | 221–276 | 55 | Cusco |
- Mile 130 of this route: Puno → Cusco (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Ollantaytambo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Convento Franciscano de Juliaca (mile 27), Pucará (mile 65), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 66), Ayamachay (mile 173), Choquepuquio (mile 220), Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 247), Inkariy Museum (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Pucará (mile 65), Pukara Lithic Museum (mile 66), Ayamachay (mile 173), Choquepuquio (mile 220), Intiyuq K'uchu (mile 247), Inkariy Museum (mile 254)
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.
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.
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.
Choquepuquio
Choquepuquio is an extensive Wari archaeological site in the Cusco valley, in Lucre District near the village of Huacarpay and the lake of the same name.
Iglesia de la Recoleta
A Catholic church in Cusco, the Iglesia de la Recoleta has been part of the city's Monumental Zone, declared a Historical Monument of Peru, since 1972.
Intiyuq K'uchu
Rock paintings mark Intiyuq K'uchu, an archaeological site in Lamay District of Calca Province in the Cusco Region.
Inkariy Museum
A private history museum in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inkariy Museum lies in Calca district, in Peru's Cusco region.
Once you reach Ollantaytambo
Pinkuylluna
Northeast of Ollantaytambo in Cusco's Urubamba Province, Pinkuylluna is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name, between the Patakancha and Willkanuta rivers.
Templo del Sol
Templo del Sol sits in Ollantaytambo District, about 80 km northeast of Cusco and 40 km from Machu Picchu, at roughly 2,792 meters above sea level.
Ñaupa Iglesia
Near Ollantaytambo, Ñaupa Iglesia is an Inca archaeological site regarded as a huaca and astronomical observatory, where imperial stonework blends with natural rock formations.
More drives to Ollantaytambo
- Abancay to Ollantaytambo
- Andahuaylas to Ollantaytambo
- Ayacucho, Peru to Ollantaytambo
- Nazca to Ollantaytambo
- Huancavelica to Ollantaytambo
- Ica to Ollantaytambo
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 Ollantaytambo?
About 7 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 276 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puno to Ollantaytambo?
About 276 miles (444 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 Puno to Ollantaytambo?
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 Ollantaytambo use?
In order: PE-3S and PE-28B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puno and Ollantaytambo?
Closest to the road: Pukara Lithic Museum (museum, mile 66, 0.2 mi from the route); Intiyuq K'uchu (archaeological site, mile 247, 0.2 mi from the route); Inkariy Museum (museum, mile 254, 0.1 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.