By road, Ica and Huanchaco are about 541 miles (871 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 37 min of driving.
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 | 541 mi (871 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Ica to Huanchaco
PE-1N (317 mi) and PE-1S (189 mi) carry about 94% of the 541 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ica to Huanchaco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1S | 0–189 | 189 | Ica, Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1N | 189–274 | 85 | Lima Province, Lima |
| connecting roads | 274–275 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 275–281 | 6 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 281–282 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 282–439 | 157 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 439–463 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 463–538 | 75 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 538–541 | 3 | La Libertad |
- Mile 75 of this route: Ica → Lima (region line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 461 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Places worth a stop between Ica and Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Centinela (mile 64), Catacombs of Lima (mile 187), Paramonga (mile 313)
- Nature and outdoors: Lachay National Reserve (mile 249)
- Museums and history: La Centinela (mile 64), Huaca Santa Catalina (mile 180), Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Lima (mile 187), Catacombs of Lima (mile 187), Paramonga (mile 313), Cerro Sechín (mile 413), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 446), Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (mile 529)
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 Santa Catalina
Tucked between Miguel Checa and Pascual Saco streets in Lima's La Victoria district, Huaca Santa Catalina is one of the city's few remains of the Qhapaq Ñan Inca road.
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.
Catacombs of Lima
Beneath the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco in Lima's historic center, the catacombs are underground ossuaries that now function as a museum.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
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.
Cerro Sechín
Cerro Sechín is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Áncash Region, dating to around 1600 BC. Peruvian archaeologists Julio C. Tello and Toribio Mejía Xesspe found it in July 1937.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto
Facing the Plaza de Armas of Nuevo Chimbote, this cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Pedro Apóstol) covers about 2,000 square meters and holds 1,600 people.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
About five kilometers south of Trujillo in Moche District, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are a Moche sanctuary made up of adobe pyramids and monuments.
Once you reach Huanchaco
Chan Chan
Five kilometers west of Trujillo, Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimor kingdom and is now an archaeological site in the La Libertad region.
Huaca del Dragón
Near Chan Chan in Trujillo, Huaca del Dragón, also called Huaca del Arco Iris, is an archaeological site that served as a religious, administrative and ceremonial center.
Swamps of Huanchaco
Also called the Wetlands of Huanchaco, this reserve at Huanchaco Beach, about 14 km northwest of Trujillo, supplied the reeds that the Moche used to build caballitos de totora fishing boats.
More drives to Huanchaco
- Chimbote to Huanchaco
- Casma to Huanchaco
- Barranca to Huanchaco
- Huaral to Huanchaco
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
From Ica to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ica to Huanchaco?
About 13 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 541 miles.
How far is Huanchaco from Ica by car?
About 541 miles (871 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 Ica to Huanchaco 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 Ica to Huanchaco use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-1N, LM-101 and PE-1NQ. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ica and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 64, 0.6 mi from the route); Catacombs of Lima (museum, mile 187, 0.2 mi from the route); Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 313, 0.1 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.