The Wayro route from Arica to Nazca, Peru is 493 miles (793 km), about 11 h 7 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Peru at about mile 11.
Full advisory: Chile, Peru. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 493 mi (793 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | TA-645 → TA-643 → PE-1SD → PE-1S |
| Border crossing | about mile 11, Chile → Peru |
| Regions on the route | Arica y Parinacota, Tacna, Moquegua, Arequipa, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Chile into Peru
The route crosses at about mile 11, from Arica y Parinacota into Tacna. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Arica to Nazca is like
PE-1S (248 mi) and PE-1SD (211 mi) carry about 93% of the 493 miles. The first 11 miles are in Chile; the last 482 are in Peru. It runs through 5 regions: Arica y Parinacota, Tacna, Moquegua, Arequipa, Ica. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Arica to Nazca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Arica y Parinacota, Tacna |
| TA-645 | 12–17 | 5 | Tacna |
| local roads | 17–22 | 5 | Tacna |
| TA-643 | 22–33 | 11 | Tacna |
| PE-1SD | 33–244 | 211 | Tacna, Moquegua, Arequipa |
| PE-1S | 244–492 | 248 | Arequipa, Ica |
| local roads | 492–493 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 11 of this route: Arica y Parinacota → Tacna (international border)
- Mile 85 of this route: Tacna → Moquegua (region line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Moquegua → Arequipa (region line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Arequipa → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Arica and Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (mile 432)
- Museums and history: Faro Concordia (mile 16), Islay (mile 189), Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (mile 432)
Faro Concordia
In Chile's far north in the Arica y Parinacota Region, Faro Concordia is a border lighthouse with a pyramid-shaped metal tower painted in red and white bands.
Islay
In the industrial heart of Matarani, Pueblo Viejo de Islay holds the ruins of a port town founded on August 30, 1827, as Arequipa's main port, replacing Quilca.
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.
Once you reach 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
More drives from Arica
- Arica to Iquique
- Arica to Calama
- Arica to Puno, Peru
- Arica to Chucuito, Peru
- Arica to Andahuaylillas, Peru
- Arica to Lampa, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Arica to Nazca, Peru?
About 11 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 493 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arica to Nazca, Peru?
About 493 miles (793 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.
Where does the Arica to Nazca drive cross the border?
At about mile 11, from Chile into Peru.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Arica into Peru?
No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Arica to Nazca drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Arica to Nazca?
In order: TA-645, TA-643, PE-1SD and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Arica to Nazca?
Closest to the road: Faro Concordia (lighthouse, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); Islay (archaeological site, mile 189, 1 mi from the route); Museo Paleontológico de Sacaco (paleontological museum, mile 432, 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.