Plan on about 14 h 35 min of driving for the 536-mile (862 km) trip from Aguaytía to Paracas, 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 | 536 mi (862 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 14 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → PE-18A → PE-3N → PE-18 → LM-667 → PE-20C → PE-1N → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Ucayali, Huánuco, Pasco, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Aguaytía to Paracas is like
PE-18 (170 mi) and PE-1S (144 mi) carry about 59% of the 536 miles. It runs through 6 regions: Ucayali, Huánuco, Pasco, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Aguaytía to Paracas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-5N | 0–50 | 50 | Ucayali, Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 50–136 | 86 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 136–149 | 13 | Huánuco |
| PE-18 | 149–319 | 170 | Huánuco, Pasco, Lima |
| LM-667 | 319–331 | 12 | Lima |
| PE-20C | 331–339 | 8 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 339–383 | 44 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 383–527 | 144 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 527–528 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 528–535 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 535–536 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 32 of this route: Ucayali → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
- Mile 345 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 415 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 490 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Aguaytía and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Boquerón de Padre Abad (mile 14), Awkimarka (mile 145), Huaca Pro (mile 368), National Museum of Peruvian Culture (mile 376), Casona of the National University of San Marcos (mile 377), La Centinela (mile 500)
- Nature and outdoors: Boquerón de Padre Abad (mile 14), Tingo María National Park (mile 65)
- Museums and history: Awkimarka (mile 145), Warawtampu (mile 192), Monumental Zone of Ancón (mile 354), Huaca Pro (mile 368), National Museum of Peruvian Culture (mile 376), Casona of the National University of San Marcos (mile 377), La Centinela (mile 500)
Boquerón de Padre Abad
Boquerón de Padre Abad is a 3 km canyon in Peru's Ucayali department where the Yuracyacu River changes its name to the Aguaytía River.
Tingo María National Park
Established in 1965 in Peru's Huánuco region, Tingo María National Park protects montane forest and the Cueva de las Lechuzas, a cave where oilbirds nest.
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Warawtampu
Warawtampu is an archaeological site in Peru's Pasco Region, located in the Yanahuanca District of Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, within the community of the same name.
Monumental Zone of Ancón
The Monumental Zone of Ancón (Zona Monumental de Ancón) is the historic quarter of Ancón district, in the Province of Lima, Peru.
Huaca Pro
On the left bank of the Chillón River in Lima's Los Olivos district, Huaca Pro is an archaeological site more than a thousand years old.
National Museum of Peruvian Culture
Formerly the National Archaeology Museum, the National Museum of Peruvian Culture in Lima is dedicated to the culture of Peru.
Casona of the National University of San Marcos
A Spanish colonial building in Lima's historic center, the Casona of the National University of San Marcos hosts the university's cultural center and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage area since 1988.
La Centinela
Between Chincha Baja and Tambo de Mora, La Centinela was the main late settlement of the Chincha lordship and later became the seat of Inca administration in the valley.
Once you reach Paracas
Paracas Candelabra
Carved into the northern face of the Paracas Peninsula on Pisco Bay, the Paracas Candelabra is a prehistoric geoglyph; nearby pottery dates to about 200 BCE.
Museo de Sitio Julio C. Tello
Inside the Paracas National Reserve, the Museo de Sitio Julio C. Tello opened in 1964 and is named for the archaeologist who studied the Paracas culture.
More drives to Paracas
- Lima to Paracas
- Huaral to Paracas
- Huancayo to Paracas
- Huancavelica to Paracas
- Jauja to Paracas
- Barranca to Paracas
From Aguaytía to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Aguaytía to Paracas?
About 14 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
How far is Paracas from Aguaytía by car?
About 536 miles (862 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 Aguaytía to Paracas?
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 Aguaytía to Paracas use?
In order: PE-5N, PE-18A, PE-3N, PE-18, LM-667, PE-20C, PE-1N, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Aguaytía and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Boquerón de Padre Abad (canyon, mile 14, 0.2 mi from the route); Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 145, 0.3 mi from the route); Huaca Pro (archaeological site, mile 368, 0.4 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.