The Wayro route from Caraz to Paracas is 450 miles (724 km), about 10 h 14 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-16 → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Caraz to Paracas drive plays out
PE-1S (145 mi) and PE-1N (120 mi) carry about 59% of the 450 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Caraz to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 1–93 | 92 | Áncash |
| PE-16 | 93–168 | 75 | Áncash, Lima |
| PE-1N | 168–197 | 29 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 197–204 | 7 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 204–205 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 205–296 | 91 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 296–441 | 145 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 441–442 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 442–449 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 449–450 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 146 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
- Mile 259 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 404 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
What to see on the way from Caraz to Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Choquerecuay (mile 58), Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima (mile 291), La Centinela (mile 414)
- Nature and outdoors: Huascarán National Park (mile 38), Lachay National Reserve (mile 230), Medicinal Botanical Garden of Lima (mile 291)
- Museums and history: Choquerecuay (mile 58), Caral (mile 190), Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima (mile 291), Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima (mile 302), Museo de la Electricidad (mile 303), La Centinela (mile 414)
Huascarán National Park
Protecting most of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, Huascarán National Park covers about 840,000 acres of the central Andes and is managed by Peru's SERNANP.
Choquerecuay
Choquerecuay, also called Pueblo Viejo, is an Inca archaeological site in Recuay Province, Áncash, notable for a ceremonial pyramid known as an ushnu.
Caral
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe holds the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization, 182 km north of Lima, 23 km inland and 350 meters above sea level.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
Medicinal Botanical Garden of Lima
Next to the Ministry of Health headquarters in Jesús María District, the Medicinal Botanical Garden of Lima grows medicinal plants.
Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima
Partly surviving in good condition, Lima's neoclassical Fort of Santa Catalina keeps its original outer walls and the Chapel of Saint Barbara, a rare example of colonial military architecture in Peru.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima
In Lima's Barranco District, the Museum of Contemporary Art was designed by Peruvian architect Frederick Cooper Llosa on land donated by the Municipality of Barranco.
Museo de la Electricidad
Set in Barranco, Lima, the Museo de la Electricidad is a science museum that presents an overview of electrical research in Peru.
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.
Arriving in 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 Caraz to other places in Peru
- Caraz to Huanchaco
- Caraz to Malabrigo
- Caraz to Churin
- Caraz to Aguaytía
- Caraz to Oxapampa
- Caraz to La Merced
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caraz to Paracas?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
How far is Paracas from Caraz by car?
About 450 miles (724 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Caraz to Paracas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Caraz to Paracas?
In order: PE-3N, PE-16, PE-1N, LM-101, 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 Caraz to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Choquerecuay (archaeological site, mile 58, 0.4 mi from the route); Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima (fort, mile 291, 0.9 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 414, 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.