Barranca to Nazca is about 391 road miles (629 km): roughly 9 h 34 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Total distance | 391 mi (629 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Barranca to Nazca
PE-1S (265 mi) and PE-1N (112 mi) carry about 96% of the 391 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Barranca and Nazca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 2–23 | 21 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 23–30 | 7 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 31–122 | 91 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 122–354 | 232 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 354–357 | 3 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 357–390 | 33 | Ica |
| local roads | 390–391 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 85 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 230 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
What to see on the way from Barranca to Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaca Aznapuquio (mile 112), National Museum of Peruvian Culture (mile 116), Museum of Elections and Democracy (mile 117), Pachacamac site Museum (mile 139), La Centinela (mile 240), Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (mile 303), Nazca lines (mile 374)
- Nature and outdoors: Albufera El Paraíso (mile 37), Lachay National Reserve (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Huaca Aznapuquio (mile 112), National Museum of Peruvian Culture (mile 116), Museum of Elections and Democracy (mile 117), Pachacamac site Museum (mile 139), La Centinela (mile 240), Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (mile 303)
Albufera El Paraíso
In Huaura Province, in the Lima region, Albufera El Paraíso is a saltwater lagoon where crabs, lizards, great egrets and flamingos live.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
Huaca Aznapuquio
Dating to the Late Horizon, Huaca Aznapuquio is an archaeological site believed to have served the Incas as a pottery workshop and possibly a coastal distribution center.
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.
Museum of Elections and Democracy
Opened in 2005 in the National Jury of Elections headquarters in Lima's historic center, the Museum of Elections and Democracy covers Peru's electoral history in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Pachacamac site Museum
Inside the Pachacamac archaeological sanctuary, this Ministry of Culture site museum holds more than 6,500 registered pieces of ceramics, wood, metal and textiles, about 290 on display, including the Pachacamac Idol.
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.
Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins"
Ica's regional archaeological museum, named for Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins, focuses on the different Indigenous cultures that lived in Peru.
Nazca lines
Scratched into the Nazca Desert of southern Peru between 500 BC and 500 AD, the Nazca lines are geoglyphs made by removing surface pebbles to expose different-colored ground.
When you get to 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.
Museo Arqueológico Antonini
On Avenida de la Cultura in Nazca, the Museo Arqueológico Antonini holds many of the finds recovered by the Italian archaeological mission Proyecto Nasca (1982–2011).
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.
More drives to Nazca
From Barranca to other places in Peru
- Barranca to Churin
- Barranca to Aguaytía
- Barranca to Tocache
- Barranca to Juanjuí
- Barranca to Tarma
- Barranca to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barranca to Nazca?
About 9 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 391 miles.
How far is Nazca from Barranca by car?
About 391 miles (629 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 Barranca to Nazca?
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 Barranca to Nazca use?
In order: PE-1N, LM-101 and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Barranca to Nazca?
Closest to the road: Huaca Aznapuquio (archaeological site, mile 112, 0.6 mi from the route); Pachacamac site Museum (museum, mile 139, 0.6 mi from the route); Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (anthropology museum, mile 303, 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.