Huacachina to La Merced is about 366 road miles (589 km): roughly 10 h 6 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 366 mi (589 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-3N → JU-645 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Huacachina to La Merced is like
PE-1S (181 mi) and PE-22 (95 mi) carry about 75% of the 366 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huacachina and La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 2–183 | 181 | Ica, Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 183–190 | 7 | Lima Province |
| PE-22 | 190–254 | 64 | Lima Province, Lima |
| LM-618 | 254–260 | 6 | Lima, Junín |
| PE-22 | 260–291 | 31 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 291–306 | 15 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 306–317 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 317–318 | 1 | Junín |
| local roads | 318–324 | 6 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 324–366 | 42 | Junín |
- Mile 76 of this route: Ica → Lima (region line)
- Mile 151 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Lima → Junín (region line)
Places worth a stop between Huacachina and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Centinela (mile 66), Huaca Malena (mile 122), Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (mile 186), Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (mile 190), Huaycán de Pariachi (mile 194)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez (mile 183)
- Museums and history: La Centinela (mile 66), Huaca Malena (mile 122), Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima (mile 177), Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (mile 186), Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (mile 190), Huaycán de Pariachi (mile 194), Catedral de Tarma (mile 324)
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.
Huaca Malena
In Asia district of Cañete Province, Lima region, Huaca Malena is an archaeological site that has its own on-site museum for visitors.
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.
Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez
Run by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, the Octavio Velarde Núñez Botanical Garden covers about 2 hectares in Lima.
Quinta de Presa
Quinta de Presa is a French-style country mansion built in the 18th century under Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Junyent, with a built area of 15,159 square meters.
Museo de Sitio Puruchuco
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture, the Puruchuco site museum (Museo de Sitio Arturo Jiménez Borja) in Lima's Ate district opened in 1960.
Casa Museo Villa Mercedes
Casa Museo Villa Mercedes is a house museum in the Ate Vitarte district of Lima, Peru.
Huaycán de Pariachi
South of the Rímac River in Huaycán, Ate District, Huaycán de Pariachi is an archaeological site within the Lima area of Peru.
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.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Huacachina to other places in Peru
- Huacachina to Puerto Ocopa
- Huacachina to Huanchaco
- Huacachina to Cachora
- Huacachina to Yucay
- Huacachina to Andahuaylillas
- Huacachina to Kiteni
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huacachina to La Merced?
About 10 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 366 miles.
How far is La Merced from Huacachina by car?
About 366 miles (589 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 Huacachina to La Merced?
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 Huacachina to La Merced use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-22, LM-618, PE-3N, JU-645 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huacachina and La Merced?
Closest to the road: La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (museum, mile 186, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (historic house museum, mile 190, 0.3 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.