Plan on about 15 h 15 min of driving for the 534-mile (859 km) trip from Atalaya 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 534 mi (859 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 15 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5SA → PE-5SB → PE-5S → PE-22B → JU-645 → PE-3N → PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Ucayali, Junín, 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 |
Driving Atalaya to Paracas: the shape of the trip
PE-1S (145 mi) and PE-5SA (95 mi) carry about 45% of the 534 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Ucayali, Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Atalaya to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-5SA | 0–95 | 95 | Ucayali, Junín |
| PE-5SB | 95–158 | 63 | Junín |
| PE-5S | 158–189 | 31 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 189–239 | 50 | Junín |
| local roads | 239–245 | 6 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 245–258 | 13 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 258–273 | 15 | Junín |
| PE-22 | 273–304 | 31 | Junín |
| LM-618 | 304–310 | 6 | Junín, Lima |
| PE-22 | 310–373 | 63 | Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 373–380 | 7 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 380–525 | 145 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 525–526 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 526–533 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 533–534 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 2 of this route: Ucayali → Junín (region line)
- Mile 24 of this route: Junín → Ucayali (region line)
- Mile 78 of this route: Ucayali → Junín (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Junín → Lima (region line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 414 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 488 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Stops between Atalaya and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaca Bellavista (mile 377), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 384), Chilca (mile 418), La Centinela (mile 498)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata Bayoz (mile 168), Chiri Yaku (mile 203)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Tarma (mile 239), Huaca Bellavista (mile 377), Huaca Melgarejo (mile 378), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 384), Museo Pedro de Osma (mile 387), Chilca (mile 418), La Centinela (mile 498)
Catarata Bayoz
Catarata Bayoz is a waterfall in Chanchamayo province, in the Junín department of central Peru.
Chiri Yaku
In the Vitoc District of Chanchamayo Province, Junín Region, Chiri Yaku is a waterfall at an elevation of about 1,033 meters.
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Huaca Bellavista
On the left bank of the Rímac River, Huaca Bellavista is an archaeological zone in Lima's Santa Anita district.
Huaca Melgarejo
Huaca Melgarejo is an archaeological site in the La Molina district of Lima, Peru's capital.
Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World
In Monterrico, Santiago de Surco, the Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World combines Peruvian archaeology with a collection of weapons.
Museo Pedro de Osma
Museo Pedro de Osma is a history museum in the Barranco district of Lima, Peru, a stop for travelers exploring the Lima area.
Chilca
Near the town of Chilca in Cañete province, this archaeological site holds remains of an early Archaic village uncovered in 1963 by Swiss archaeologist Frédéric Engel.
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.
In Paracas itself
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Atalaya to Paracas?
About 15 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
How far is Paracas from Atalaya by car?
About 534 miles (859 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 Atalaya to Paracas?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Atalaya to Paracas?
In order: PE-5SA, PE-5SB, PE-5S, PE-22B, JU-645, PE-3N, PE-22, LM-618, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Atalaya to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Huaca Bellavista (archaeological site, mile 377, 1 mi from the route); Chilca (archaeological site, mile 418, 0.1 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 498, 0.6 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.