Huaraz to Paracas is about 407 road miles (655 km): roughly 9 h 3 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: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance by road | 407 mi (655 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-16 → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Huaraz to Paracas is like
PE-1S (144 mi) and PE-1N (120 mi) carry about 65% of the 407 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huaraz and Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 1–50 | 49 | Áncash |
| PE-16 | 50–126 | 76 | Áncash, Lima |
| PE-1N | 126–154 | 28 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 154–155 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 155–162 | 7 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 162–254 | 92 | Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 254–398 | 144 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 398–399 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 399–406 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 406–407 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 103 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 361 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huaraz and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Choquerecuay (mile 15), Ancon (mile 226), Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (mile 248), La Centinela (mile 371)
- Nature and outdoors: Albufera El Paraíso (mile 168)
- Museums and history: Choquerecuay (mile 15), Hatun Machay (mile 45), Paramonga (mile 125), Ancon (mile 226), Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Lima (mile 248), Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (mile 248), Museo Pedro de Osma (mile 260), La Centinela (mile 371)
Choquerecuay
Choquerecuay, also called Pueblo Viejo, is an Inca archaeological site in Recuay Province, Áncash, notable for a ceremonial pyramid known as an ushnu.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
Paramonga
Paramonga was a city built at the edge of the Chimor kingdom during the Late Intermediate Period. The archaeological site sits on the Fortaleza River near Pativilca, north of Lima.
Albufera El Paraíso
In Huaura Province, in the Lima region, Albufera El Paraíso is a saltwater lagoon where crabs, lizards, great egrets and flamingos live.
Ancon
On the north side of Ancón Bay on Peru's central coast, Ancon is an archaeological site with a vast pre-Hispanic necropolis of countless burial sites.
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Lima
In Lima's Breña district, the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is a Salesian Catholic church facing Brazil Avenue near Bolognesi Square.
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.
Museo Pedro de Osma
Museo Pedro de Osma is a history museum in the Barranco district of Lima, Peru, a stop for travelers exploring the Lima area.
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.
When you get to 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
- Huancavelica to Paracas
- Jauja to Paracas
- Barranca to Paracas
From Huaraz to other places in Peru
- Huaraz to Barranca
- Huaraz to Huaral
- Huaraz to Huanchaco
- Huaraz to Churin
- Huaraz to Cerro de Pasco
- Huaraz to Malabrigo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huaraz to Paracas?
About 9 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 407 miles.
How far is Paracas from Huaraz by car?
About 407 miles (655 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 Huaraz to Paracas 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 Huaraz to Paracas use?
In order: PE-3N, PE-16, PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huaraz to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Choquerecuay (archaeological site, mile 15, 0.3 mi from the route); Ancon (archaeological site, mile 226, 0.6 mi from the route); Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum (museum, mile 248, 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.