Plan on about 7 h 52 min of driving for the 320-mile (515 km) trip from Huaral 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: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 320 mi (515 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-20C → PE-1N → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Huaral to Nazca drive plays out
PE-1S (264 mi) and PE-1N (44 mi) carry about 96% of the 320 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Huaral to Nazca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-20C | 1–8 | 7 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 8–52 | 44 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 52–283 | 231 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 283–286 | 3 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 286–319 | 33 | Ica |
| local roads | 319–320 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 14 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 159 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Stops between Huaral and Nazca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pampa de Cueva (mile 42), Municipal Theatre Museum (mile 46), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 55), La Centinela (mile 169), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 232), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 303), Nazca lines (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Colli Museum (mile 35), Pampa de Cueva (mile 42), Mateo Salado (mile 45), Municipal Theatre Museum (mile 46), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 55), La Centinela (mile 169), St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica (mile 232), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 303)
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.
Pampa de Cueva
Pampa de Cueva is a U-shaped ceremonial complex oriented east toward the rising sun, likely built for religious purposes.
Mateo Salado
Five stepped, truncated pyramids make up the Mateo Salado archaeological complex, in Lima where the city's central district meets Breña and Pueblo Libre.
Municipal Theatre Museum
Set behind the Municipal Theatre of Lima on Jirón Huancavelica, the Municipal Theatre Museum is a museum in the city's historic center.
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.
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.
In Nazca itself
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).
Acueductos de Achaco
The Achaco Aqueducts form an archaeological landscape of aqueducts in Nasca Province, Ica Region, at about 548 meters above sea level.
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.
More drives to Nazca
From Huaral to other places in Peru
- Huaral to Aguaytía
- Huaral to Tocache
- Huaral to Juanjuí
- Huaral to Barranca
- Huaral to Tarma
- Huaral to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huaral to Nazca?
About 7 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 320 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huaral to Nazca?
About 320 miles (515 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 Huaral to Nazca?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huaral to Nazca?
In order: 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 Huaral to Nazca?
Closest to the road: Pampa de Cueva (archaeological site, mile 42, 0.6 mi from the route); Municipal Theatre Museum (museum, mile 46, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Maria Reiche (museum, mile 303, 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.