Plan on about 5 h 36 min of driving for the 240-mile (387 km) trip from Huancavelica to Paracas, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 240 mi (387 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-26B → HV-116 → PE-28A → PE-1SE → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Huancavelica to Paracas is like
PE-28A (135 mi) and PE-26B (44 mi) carry about 75% of the 240 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Ica. Of the 4 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Huancavelica to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Huancavelica |
| PE-26B | 1–45 | 44 | Huancavelica |
| HV-116 | 45–86 | 41 | Huancavelica, Ayacucho |
| PE-28A | 86–221 | 135 | Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica |
| connecting roads | 221–222 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-1SE | 222–231 | 9 | Ica |
| connecting roads | 231–232 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 232–239 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 239–240 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 84 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 172 of this route: Huancavelica → Ica (region line)
Stops between Huancavelica and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 137), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 152), Tambo Colorado (mile 198), Band of Holes (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 137), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 152), Tambo Colorado (mile 198), Band of Holes (mile 201)
Inka Wasi, Huancavelica
Inka Wasi is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, where the remains of an Inca palace are regarded as one of the region's most important monuments.
Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano"
Housed in the former Huaytará provincial council building in the Huancavelica region, the Museo Arqueológico Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano is an archaeology museum.
Tambo Colorado
Tambo Colorado is a well-preserved Inca adobe complex near the coast of Peru, also known by the Quechua names Puka Tampu and Pukallaqta.
Band of Holes
In the Pisco Valley, the Band of Holes, also called Monte Sierpe or Cerro Viruela, is a line of roughly 5,200 human-sized, stone-lined pits whose makers and purpose remain unknown.
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
- Jauja to Paracas
- Barranca to Paracas
- Churin to Paracas
From Huancavelica to other places in Peru
- Huancavelica to Jauja
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Huancavelica to Oxapampa
- Huancavelica to Satipo
- Huancavelica to Puerto Ocopa
- Huancavelica to Churin
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huancavelica to Paracas?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 240 miles.
How far is Paracas from Huancavelica by car?
About 240 miles (387 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 Huancavelica to Paracas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huancavelica to Paracas?
In order: PE-26B, HV-116, PE-28A, PE-1SE and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huancavelica and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (archaeological site, mile 137, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (museum, mile 152, 0.2 mi from the route); Tambo Colorado (archaeological site, mile 198, 0.2 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.