Plan on about 10 h 55 min of driving for the 431-mile (694 km) trip from Ica to Huánuco, 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.”
| Total distance | 431 mi (694 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-1N → PE-20C → LM-667 → PE-18 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Pasco, Huánuco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Ica to Huánuco
PE-1S (189 mi) and PE-18 (171 mi) carry about 84% of the 431 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Pasco, Huánuco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Ica to Huánuco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1S | 0–189 | 189 | Ica, Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1N | 189–226 | 37 | Lima Province, Lima |
| connecting roads | 226–227 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-20C | 227–234 | 7 | Lima |
| LM-667 | 234–245 | 11 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 245–416 | 171 | Lima, Pasco, Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 416–429 | 13 | Huánuco |
| local roads | 429–431 | 2 | Huánuco |
- 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 342 of this route: Lima → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Pasco → Huánuco (region line)
Places worth a stop between Ica and Huánuco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Centinela (mile 64), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 178), Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (mile 187), Casona of the National University of San Marcos (mile 187), Hatun Uchku (mile 416)
- Nature and outdoors: La Herradura, Lima (mile 175), Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (mile 187), Lachay National Reserve (mile 247)
- Museums and history: La Centinela (mile 64), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 178), Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (mile 187), Huaca Santa Rosa (mile 192), Huaca Yarushpampa (mile 372), Hatun Uchku (mile 416)
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.
La Herradura, Lima
A beach in Lima's Chorrillos District, La Herradura has served as a seaside resort since the early 20th century and has drawn surfers since the 1960s.
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.
Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru
At the corner of Lampa and Ucayali streets in Lima's historic center, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru's museum displays archaeological, numismatic and art collections.
Casona of the National University of San Marcos
This Spanish colonial building in Lima's historic center houses the Cultural Centre of San Marcos University and is part of the area UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1988.
Huaca Santa Rosa
Huaca Santa Rosa is an archaeological site in the San Martín de Porres district of Lima, Peru's capital.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
Huaca Yarushpampa
On the right bank of the Huarautambo River in Astobamba, Pasco region, Huaca Yarushpampa (Sitio arqueológico Yarushpampa) is an archaeological site.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Once you reach Huánuco
Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco
Huánuco Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, is the mother church of the Diocese of Huánuco, created in 1865. The original building dates from 1618.
Shillacoto
Shillacoto is an archaeological site in the Huánuco district of Peru's Huánuco Region, excavated between 1967 and 1969 under the direction of Chiaki Kano.
Quillarumi
West of the town of Huánuco, Quillarumi is an archaeological site with rock paintings on a mountain slope at about 2,463 meters.
More drives to Huánuco
- Pucallpa to Huánuco
- Tarapoto to Huánuco
- Lima to Huánuco
- Huancayo to Huánuco
- Chimbote to Huánuco
- Trujillo to Huánuco
From Ica to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ica to Huánuco?
About 10 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 431 miles.
How far is Huánuco from Ica by car?
About 431 miles (694 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 Huánuco 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 Huánuco use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-1N, PE-20C, LM-667, PE-18 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ica to Huánuco?
Closest to the road: La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 64, 0.6 mi from the route); Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (national museum, mile 187, 0.4 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 416, 0.5 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.