Plan on about 11 h 30 min of driving for the 429-mile (690 km) trip from Cerro de Pasco to Nazca, before any 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.”
| Total distance | 429 mi (690 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 30 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 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Cerro de Pasco–Nazca drive in a few lines
PE-1S (264 mi) and PE-20A (126 mi) carry about 91% of the 429 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Pasco, Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cerro de Pasco and Nazca
| 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 | 160–391 | 231 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 391–395 | 4 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 395–428 | 33 | Ica |
| local roads | 428–429 | 1 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huayllay National Sanctuary (mile 30), Buena Vista (mile 129), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 143), La Centinela (mile 278), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 341), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 411), Nazca lines (mile 411)
- Museums and history: Buena Vista (mile 129), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 143), Metropolitan Museum of Lima (mile 154), La Centinela (mile 278), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 341), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 411)
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.
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.
Metropolitan Museum of Lima
In a neoclassical building designed by French architect Claude Sahut and built in 1924, the Metropolitan Museum of Lima stands next to the Park of the Exhibition.
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.
St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica
Also called Ica Cathedral, St. Jerome Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Ica, Peru.
Museo Maria Reiche
Opened in 1994, Museo Maria Reiche (Casa Museo Maria Reiche) is a house museum at kilometer 421.3 of the Pan-American Highway South in El Ingenio district, about 27.5 km from Nasca and 21.3 km from Palpa.
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.
Once you reach Nazca
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).
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.
More drives to Nazca
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 is the drive from Cerro de Pasco to Nazca?
About 11 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 429 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cerro de Pasco to Nazca?
About 429 miles (690 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 Cerro de Pasco to Nazca drive?
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 Cerro de Pasco to Nazca use?
In order: PE-3N, PE-20A, PE-1N and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cerro de Pasco and Nazca?
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.