The Wayro route from Jauja to Paracas is 275 miles (442 km), about 8 h 2 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.”
| Total distance | 275 mi (442 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3S → JU-776 → JU-784 → LM-828 → LM-120 → PE-22A → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Lima, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Jauja to Paracas drive plays out
PE-1S (91 mi) and PE-22A (85 mi) carry about 64% of the 275 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Junín, Lima, Ica. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Jauja to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Junín |
| PE-3S | 2–24 | 22 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 24–27 | 3 | Junín |
| JU-776 | 27–51 | 24 | Junín |
| JU-784 | 51–55 | 4 | Junín |
| LM-828 | 55–64 | 9 | Junín, Lima |
| LM-120 | 64–89 | 25 | Lima |
| PE-22A | 89–174 | 85 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 174–175 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1S | 175–266 | 91 | Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 266–267 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 267–273 | 6 | Ica |
| local roads | 273–275 | 2 | Ica |
- Mile 56 of this route: Junín → Lima (region line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Places worth a stop between Jauja and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Quri Winchus (mile 32), Pirca Pirca, Lima (mile 78), Huaca Malena (mile 183), La Centinela (mile 239)
- Nature and outdoors: Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve (mile 47)
- Museums and history: Quri Winchus (mile 32), Pirca Pirca, Lima (mile 78), Huaca Malena (mile 183), Cerro de Oro (mile 205), La Centinela (mile 239)
Quri Winchus
Remains of circular Wanka-period buildings make up Quri Winchus, an archaeological site in Canchayllo District, Jauja Province, in Peru's Junín Region.
Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve
Spanning Yauyos Province in the Lima Region and Jauja Province in Junín, the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve protects Yungas and Central Andean wet puna landscapes.
Pirca Pirca, Lima
Pirca Pirca is an archaeological site in Peru's Lima Region, in the Tanta District of Yauyos Province.
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.
Cerro de Oro
Spread over roughly 150 hectares on a hill beside the Pacific, Cerro de Oro is a monumental archaeological zone in the Cañete Valley, surrounded by farm plots in San Luis de Cañete district.
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
- Barranca to Paracas
- Churin to Paracas
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jauja to Paracas?
About 8 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Paracas from Jauja by car?
About 275 miles (442 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 Jauja to Paracas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Jauja to Paracas?
In order: PE-3S, JU-776, JU-784, LM-828, LM-120, PE-22A, 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 Jauja to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Quri Winchus (archaeological site, mile 32, 0.1 mi from the route); Pirca Pirca, Lima (archaeological site, mile 78, 0.2 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 239, 0.6 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.