Huánuco to Huacachina is about 432 road miles (695 km): roughly 10 h 50 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.”
| Total distance | 432 mi (695 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-18 → LM-667 → PE-20C → PE-1N → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Huánuco, Pasco, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Huánuco to Huacachina: the shape of the trip
PE-1S (180 mi) and PE-18 (170 mi) carry about 81% of the 432 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Huánuco, Pasco, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Huánuco to Huacachina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 2–15 | 13 | Huánuco |
| PE-18 | 15–185 | 170 | Huánuco, Pasco, Lima |
| LM-667 | 185–197 | 12 | Lima |
| PE-20C | 197–205 | 8 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 205–249 | 44 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 249–429 | 180 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 429–432 | 3 | Ica |
- Mile 31 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
- Mile 211 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 356 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huánuco and Huacachina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Awkimarka (mile 11), Huaca Aznapuquio (mile 237), Pampa de Cueva (mile 239), Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (mile 243), La Centinela (mile 366)
- Nature and outdoors: Lachay National Reserve (mile 183)
- Museums and history: Awkimarka (mile 11), Warawtampu (mile 58), Huaca Aznapuquio (mile 237), Pampa de Cueva (mile 239), Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (mile 243), Andrés Avelino Cáceres Museum (mile 254), La Centinela (mile 366)
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Warawtampu
Warawtampu is an archaeological site in Peru's Pasco Region, located in the Yanahuanca District of Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, within the community of the same name.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
Huaca Aznapuquio
Dating to the Late Horizon, Huaca Aznapuquio is an archaeological site believed to have served the Incas as a pottery workshop and possibly a coastal distribution center.
Pampa de Cueva
Pampa de Cueva is a U-shaped ceremonial complex oriented east toward the rising sun, likely built for religious purposes.
Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum
Also known as Casa de Bolognesi, this house museum in Lima's historic center occupies Francisco Bolognesi's birthplace and is dedicated to the War of the Pacific and the Battle of Arica.
Andrés Avelino Cáceres Museum
Housed in a former train station in Parque Reducto No. 2 in Miraflores, Lima, this war museum honors Marshal Andrés Avelino Cáceres, who took part in defending the redoubt during the War of the Pacific.
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.
Once you reach 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
- Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina
From Huánuco to other places in Peru
- Huánuco to Aguaytía
- Huánuco to Tocache
- Huánuco to Juanjuí
- Huánuco to Moyobamba
- Huánuco to Yurimaguas
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huánuco to Huacachina?
About 10 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 432 miles.
How far is Huacachina from Huánuco by car?
About 432 miles (695 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 Huánuco to Huacachina?
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 Huánuco to Huacachina use?
In order: PE-3N, PE-18, LM-667, PE-20C, 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 Huánuco to Huacachina?
Closest to the road: Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 11, 0.3 mi from the route); Huaca Aznapuquio (archaeological site, mile 237, 0.6 mi from the route); Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (museum, mile 243, 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.