Quillabamba to Nazca is about 546 road miles (878 km): roughly 13 h 45 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.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba.
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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 546 mi (878 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → AY-100 → PE-3S → PE-32A → AY-1118 → AY-109 → PE-30A |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Ayacucho, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Quillabamba to Nazca
PE-28B (219 mi) and PE-32A (66 mi) carry about 52% of the 546 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Cusco, Ayacucho, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Quillabamba to Nazca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–219 | 219 | Cusco, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 219–252 | 33 | Ayacucho |
| AY-100 | 252–277 | 25 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 278–329 | 51 | Ayacucho |
| PE-32A | 329–395 | 66 | Ayacucho |
| AY-1118 | 395–435 | 40 | Ayacucho |
| AY-109 | 435–493 | 58 | Ayacucho |
| PE-30A | 493–545 | 52 | Ayacucho, Ica |
| local roads | 545–546 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 163 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 522 of this route: Ayacucho → Ica (region line)
What to see on the way from Quillabamba to Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marayniyoq (mile 289), Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 385)
- Museums and history: Azángaro (mile 278), Tinyaq (mile 285), Marayniyoq (mile 289), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 296), Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue (mile 306), Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres (mile 306), Hatun Usnu (mile 337), Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (mile 385)
Azángaro
Near Huari in the Huanta valley of Ayacucho, Azángaro is a Wari administrative center of about 8 square kilometers, with 340 similar buildings lining a central passage.
Tinyaq
Also known as Quri Willka, Tinyaq is an Inca-period archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in the Iguain District of Huanta Province, Ayacucho.
Marayniyoq
Marayniyoq, also written Marayniyoc, is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho region on a plain called Vega Pampa, southeast of Huanta and southwest of Huamanguilla.
Museo de Sitio de Wari
Near the Wari archaeological complex in Ayacucho, the Museo de Sitio de Wari displays ceramics, bone remains and stone objects found during research excavations.
Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue
Located on the 5th block of Jirón Independencia in Ayacucho, Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue is a museum of archaeology and anthropology.
Museo Histórico Mariscal Andrés A. Cáceres
Housed in the colonial Casa de Vivanco in Ayacucho, this museum honors Andrés Avelino Cáceres, a hero of the War of the Pacific. Its ten exhibition rooms include his personal belongings, military gear and objects recovered from the war.
Hatun Usnu
Hatun Usnu is an archaeological site atop a mountain of the same name in Chiara District, Huamanga Province, Ayacucho.
Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo
Known as the "ancient place" in Quechua, Ñawpallaqta is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho Region, on the border of the Cayara and Huancapi districts in Víctor Fajardo Province.
Arriving in 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 Quillabamba to other places in Peru
- Quillabamba to Ollantaytambo
- Quillabamba to Urubamba
- Quillabamba to Yucay
- Quillabamba to Maras
- Quillabamba to Chinchero
- Quillabamba to Písac
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quillabamba to Nazca?
About 13 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quillabamba to Nazca?
About 546 miles (878 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 Quillabamba to Nazca 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; Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Quillabamba to Nazca?
In order: PE-28B, AY-100, PE-3S, PE-32A, AY-1118, AY-109 and PE-30A. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quillabamba and Nazca?
Closest to the road: Tinyaq (archaeological site, mile 285, 1 mi from the route); Marayniyoq (archaeological site, mile 289, 0.4 mi from the route); Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo (archaeological site, mile 385, 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.