Routes from Lima through the Andean Trapezoid

Lima-Pisco-Ayacucho Distance: 558 km. Estimated duration: 8-9hrs. Asphalted Highway in good conditions. Lima-San Clemente (Turn-off Ayacucho) (227 kms; 2 ½ hrs) Continue the southern Panamericana highway until San Clemente ( 3 kms before reaching the turn-off to Pisco). 4 lane highway until Cerro Azul and lane road until Pisco. Totally asphalted road. Route 1-S. San Clemente (Turn-off to Ayacucho)-Pámpano (80 kms; 1hr 15min.). Route 24, 2 way lane, asphalted known as “ Via de los Libertadores” . From the coast the road ascends slowly through the Valley of the Pisco River with many curves ahead. On route you will drive through the villages of Humay and afterwards Tambo Colorado (Museum at site) An Inca establishment only 40 kms from San Clemente and afterwards Huancano (67 kms from San Clemente) after passing the toll booth of Pacra you will arrive at Pampano where you will find the turn-off to your left to Castrovirreyna. Pámpano-Ayacucho (251 kms; 4hrs). Continuing on route on your right hand side (Route 24), 109 kms from San Clemente is located the town of Huaytara (2,658 m.a.s.l), here you will find a beautiful Inca Temple which was converted to a Church. And 87 kms after the bridge of Rumichaca, at this point the road bifurcates to Pilpichaca, Santa Ines and Huancavelica  to your left and Ayacucho to your right. Continuing on your right you start driving uphill and drive through the mountain pass of Apacheta (4,746 m.a.s.l department limit between Ica and Ayacucho) where you will be able to see the monument “ Altar de los libertadores Americanos”. Be careful of the morning snow. At this point finally initiates a slow descent or downhill drive to Ayacucho (2,750 m.a.s.l).

PÁMPANO-CASTROVIRREYNA-SANTAINÉS-RUMICHACA. Distance: 139 kms. Estimated duration: 3hrs. Non-asphalted road.

Pámpano-Castrovirreyna (70 kms; 1 ½ hrs). From Pampano you continue on your left hand side. And after 29 kms arrive at Ticrapo. The road in this section has many curves and also many abysms. Further 41 kms from this point is located Catsrovirreyna (3,980 m.a.s.l) town which has restaurants , basic hotels and medical post as well as petrol stations. Castrovirreyna-Santa Inés-Rumichaca (69 kms; 1 ½ hrs).  a little after Castrovirreyna the road reaches  4,800 m.a.s.l and passes nearby the lagoons of Pacococha, Orcococha and Choclococha. Intense cold, we recommend you take on this route thick jumpers and a good warm coat. In Santa Ines Alto (38 kms from Castrovirreyna) this town is located at 3,980 m.a.s.l , the road bifurcates. On your right continues to Ayacucho (Route 108) and on your left to Huancavelica (3-A). On the road to Ayacucho you pass bye the town of Pilpichaca, Last petrol station in 141 kms, and shortly after you arrive in Rumichaca.

LIMA-HUANCAYO-AYACUCHO. Distance: 551 kms.

Estimated duration: 10-11 hrs.

Lima-La Oroya-Huancayo (298 kms). Estimated duration: 4 ½ hrs - 5hrs. Please look at route  Lima-La Oroya-Huancayo (Chapter Central Highlands). Huancayo-lzcuchaca (68 kms; 1hr 15min.). Route 3-S. Asphalted road which heads southeast. From thjere on to Huanta, the route is non-asphalted. The first waypoint is the town of Huayuchachi 6 kms from Huancayo. At km 31 on this section, in Imperial you will se the turn-off to Pampas (left hand). You continue on the route 3-S (Right hand) and after 7 kms you arrive in Acostambo. In Izcuchaca (2,825 m.a.s.l) the road bifurcates again; on your right following  the route which is mostly asphalted you will reach Huancavelica (Route 3-A) and taking the left on non-asphalted road will lead you to Huanta. Izcuchaca-Huanta (140 kms; 3hrs). Non-asphalted road. The route continues along the border of the river Mantaro, crosses the towns of Mariscal Cáceres, Anco and Mayocc. Pasing this last waypoint, and now leaving behind the Mantaro River, after 28 kms you arrive in Huanta. Petrol station are only available after Anco. Huanta-Ayacucho (45 kms; 1 hrs). Asphalted road, in good conditions. Huanta offers all the necessities and services required.

LIMA-HUANCAYO-HUANCAVELICA. Distance: 444 kms.

Estimated duration: 8 - 9hrs.

Huancayo-lzcuchaca (68 kms; 1hr 15min.) Please see route Lima-Huancayo-Ayacucho (3-S).  Take the turn-off to Huancavelica (Right hand) in Izcuchaca (2,825 m.a.s.l). Izcuchaca-Huancavelica (78 kms; 2hrs). Route 3-A. Non-asphalted road in regular state, with many curves and slopes. The first important waypoint is the town of Huando (3,500 m.a.s.l) 16 kms from Izcuchaca. After 62 kms of hard driving conditions you arrive in Huancavelica.

AYACUCHO-ANDAHUAYLAS-ABANCAY.

Distance: 399 kms. Estimated duration: 12-13hrs. Ayacucho-Chincheros (173 kms; 5 ½ hrs). Non-asphalted Route in regular conditions. Route 3-S.  the route heads south-east and passes the deviation of Chiara to Cangallo which  lays 41 kms from Ayacucho (on the right). You continue on your left crossing the mountain pass of Huamina at 4,390 m.a.s.l and begin a descent until arriving the towns of Ocros and Chumbes. After having passed bye the Pampas bridge (Road limit between the departments of Ayacucho and Apurimac, at 102 km from the deviation of Cangallo), 30 kms after you arrive in Chincheros. Chincheros-Andahuaylas (88 kms; 2 ½ hrs). Non-asphalted road, in regular state with curves and deep slopes. Continue route  3-S. The route initiates with a uphill drive passing bye Uripa (Km 9 on this section) continues to ascend until reaching the mountain pass of Saracocha, from where it starts to descend and passes bye the towns of Santa Maria and Chicmo (Km 69, you will find a service station), and Talavera (km 84). Please take note that an this section you will maintain an altitude between 3,500 and 4,000 m.a.s.l. Andahuaylas-Abancay (136 kms; 4hrs). Non-asphalted road, generally in good conditions, with some sections a little bit deteriorated . Route 3-S. The road continues to climb and passes through the towns of San Jeronimo (2 kms from Andahuaylas) y Quishuara (59 kms, 3,450 m.a.s.l). Afterwards crosses the mountain pass of Crusccassa (4,000 m.a.s.l) and begins a steep descent until reaching the colonial bridge of Pachachaca, where you will find the turn-off on a asphalted road to Chalhuanca and Puquio a and reaches Nazca (right hand). Continuing with the route 3-S and after having passed quite a lot of curves 18 kms further is the city of Abancay.

ABANCAY-CUSCO. Distance: 191 kms.

Estimated duration: 3 ½ hrs - 4hrs.

Abancay-Cusco (191 kms). Route 3-S. Asphalted road. This road climbs uphill slowly and after 38 kms arrives at Socllaccsa. From there on initiates a descent and crosses the turn-off to Saywitte (44 kms one of the most interesting inca ruins)  and the turn-off to the town of Cachora (From where initiates the journey to the ruins of Choquequirao); reaches Curahuasi  (Restaurant and petrol station) and continues to descend until the Cunyac Bridge (Department limit between Apurimac and Cusco) The route initiate a new uphill climb, crosses the deviation to Mollepata and arrives at the Limatambo Valley. In this points initiates the uphill drive to the mountain pass of Huillqui (4,280 m.a.s.l), from where you can observe the beautiful snow capped mountain of Salcantay, afterwards you start a steep descent which reaches Limatambo (2,490 m.a.s.l; 76kms from Cusco). Finally you pass bye Anta, the towns of Izcuchaca, Pucyura and Poroy as well as the turn-off to Urubamba,  these are the important waypoints before arriving Cusco.