Plan on about 9 h 11 min of driving for the 343-mile (552 km) trip from Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina, 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance by road | 343 mi (552 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-20A → PE-1N → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Pasco, Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Cerro de Pasco–Huacachina drive in a few lines
PE-1S (181 mi) and PE-20A (126 mi) carry about 90% of the 343 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Pasco, Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 9 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 4–12 | 8 | Pasco |
| local roads | 12–19 | 7 | Pasco |
| PE-20A | 19–145 | 126 | Pasco, Junín, Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 145–148 | 3 | Lima Province |
| connecting roads | 148–149 | 1 | Lima Province |
| PE-1N | 149–160 | 11 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 160–341 | 181 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 341–343 | 2 | Ica |
- Mile 40 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Junín → Lima (region line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cerro de Pasco and Huacachina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huayllay National Sanctuary (mile 30), Buena Vista (mile 129), Colli Museum (mile 142), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 143), Teatro Municipal de Lima (mile 154), Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima (mile 154), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 163), National Museum of Peru (mile 176), La Centinela (mile 278)
- Museums and history: Buena Vista (mile 129), Colli Museum (mile 142), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 143), Fort of Santa Catalina, Lima (mile 154), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 163), National Museum of Peru (mile 176), La Centinela (mile 278)
Huayllay National Sanctuary
On the Meseta de Bombón in Pasco, Huayllay National Sanctuary is known for the rock formations of the Huayllay rock forest and its native plants and animals.
Buena Vista
About an hour's drive north of Lima in the Chillón River Valley, Buena Vista is a 20-acre archaeological site in the Andean foothills of Santa Rosa de Quives District.
Colli Museum
Opened in 2003 by self-taught explorer Enrique Niquín, the Colli Museum (Museo de los Colli) in Lima's Comas district shows original and replica ceramics, maps, and models of the Collique Fortress.
Fortaleza de Collique
In Lima's Comas district, the Fortaleza de Collique archaeological site was an administrative and religious center of the Colli lordship and the residence of its curaca, Collicápac.
Teatro Municipal de Lima
Opened as the Teatro Forero, the Municipal Theatre of Lima is a theater and concert hall in the historic center and home of Peru's National Symphony Orchestra.
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.
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.
National Museum of Peru
Opened in July 2021 within the Pachacamac archaeological zone in Lurín, the National Museum of Peru is planned to hold pre-Columbian and Inca artifacts dating back to 5,000 BCE.
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 Huacachina
St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica
Also called Ica Cathedral, St. Jerome Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Ica, Peru.
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.
More drives to Huacachina
- Lima to Huacachina
- Huaral to Huacachina
- Barranca to Huacachina
- Churin to Huacachina
- Tarma to Huacachina
- Oxapampa to Huacachina
From Cerro de Pasco to other places in Peru
- Cerro de Pasco to Aguaytía
- Cerro de Pasco to Tocache
- Cerro de Pasco to Moyobamba
- Cerro de Pasco to Tarma
- Cerro de Pasco to Jauja
- Cerro de Pasco to Satipo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina?
About 9 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 343 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina?
About 343 miles (552 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 Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina?
In order: PE-3N, PE-20A, PE-1N and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina?
Closest to the road: Huayllay National Sanctuary (nature area, mile 30, 0.1 mi from the route); Buena Vista (archaeological site, mile 129, 0.1 mi from the route); Fortaleza de Collique (archaeological site, mile 143, 0.1 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.