The Wayro route from Ica to La Merced is 364 miles (586 km), about 10 h 4 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 364 mi (586 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-3N → JU-645 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Ica to La Merced is like
PE-1S (181 mi) and PE-22 (95 mi) carry about 76% of the 364 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ica and La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1S | 0–181 | 181 | Ica, Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 181–188 | 7 | Lima Province |
| PE-22 | 188–252 | 64 | Lima Province, Lima |
| LM-618 | 252–258 | 6 | Lima, Junín |
| PE-22 | 258–289 | 31 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 289–304 | 15 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 304–315 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 315–316 | 1 | Junín |
| local roads | 316–322 | 6 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 322–364 | 42 | Junín |
- Mile 75 of this route: Ica → Lima (region line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Lima → Junín (region line)
Places worth a stop between Ica and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Centinela (mile 64), Huaca Malena (mile 120), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 178), Puruchuco (mile 185), Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (mile 188)
- Nature and outdoors: Naplo (mile 146), Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez (mile 181)
- Museums and history: La Centinela (mile 64), Huaca Malena (mile 120), Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima (mile 175), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 178), Puruchuco (mile 185), Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (mile 188), Catedral de Tarma (mile 322)
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 Malena
In Asia district of Cañete Province, Lima region, Huaca Malena is an archaeological site that has its own on-site museum for visitors.
Naplo
Naplo is a beach in Pucusana District, Lima Province, known for its calm water.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima
In Lima's Barranco District, the Museum of Contemporary Art was designed by Peruvian architect Frederick Cooper Llosa on land donated by the Municipality of Barranco.
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.
Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez
Run by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, the Octavio Velarde Núñez Botanical Garden covers about 2 hectares in Lima.
Puruchuco
Puruchuco, in Lima's Ate District, is an archaeological site that served as an administrative center during the Inca period.
Casa Museo Villa Mercedes
Casa Museo Villa Mercedes is a house museum in the Ate Vitarte district of Lima, Peru.
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Ica to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ica to La Merced?
About 10 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 364 miles.
How far is La Merced from Ica by car?
About 364 miles (586 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 Ica to La Merced?
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 La Merced use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-22, LM-618, PE-3N, JU-645 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ica to La Merced?
Closest to the road: La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 64, 0.6 mi from the route); Puruchuco (archaeological site, mile 185, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa Museo Villa Mercedes (historic house museum, mile 188, 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.