By road, Kiteni and Paracas are about 451 miles (726 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 10 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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.”
| Total distance | 451 mi (726 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → AY-100 → PE-3S → PE-28A → PE-1SE → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Kiteni to Paracas drive plays out
PE-28A (202 mi) and PE-28B (140 mi) carry about 76% of the 451 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Kiteni to Paracas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–140 | 140 | Cusco, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 140–173 | 33 | Ayacucho |
| AY-100 | 173–196 | 23 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 196–199 | 3 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 199–227 | 28 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 227–230 | 3 | Ayacucho |
| PE-28A | 230–432 | 202 | Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica |
| connecting roads | 432–433 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-1SE | 433–442 | 9 | Ica |
| connecting roads | 442–443 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 443–450 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 450–451 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 85 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 276 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 289 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 383 of this route: Huancavelica → Ica (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marayniyoq (mile 210), Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue (mile 227), Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 347), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 364), Tambo Colorado (mile 408), Band of Holes (mile 411)
- Museums and history: Azángaro (mile 199), Marayniyoq (mile 210), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 217), Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue (mile 227), Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 347), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 364), Tambo Colorado (mile 408), Band of Holes (mile 411)
Azángaro
Near Huari in the Huanta valley of Ayacucho, Azángaro is a Wari administrative center of about 8 square kilometers, with 340 similar buildings lining a central passage.
Marayniyoq
Marayniyoq, also written Marayniyoc, is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho region on a plain called Vega Pampa, southeast of Huanta and southwest of Huamanguilla.
Museo de Sitio de Wari
Near the Wari archaeological complex in Ayacucho, the Museo de Sitio de Wari displays ceramics, bone remains and stone objects found during research excavations.
Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue
Located on the 5th block of Jirón Independencia in Ayacucho, Museo Histórico Regional Hipólito Unanue is a museum of archaeology and anthropology.
Inka Wasi, Huancavelica
Inka Wasi is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, where the remains of an Inca palace are regarded as one of the region's most important monuments.
Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano"
Housed in the former Huaytará provincial council building in the Huancavelica region, the Museo Arqueológico Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano is an archaeology museum.
Tambo Colorado
Tambo Colorado is a well-preserved Inca adobe complex near the coast of Peru, also known by the Quechua names Puka Tampu and Pukallaqta.
Band of Holes
In the Pisco Valley, the Band of Holes, also called Monte Sierpe or Cerro Viruela, is a line of roughly 5,200 human-sized, stone-lined pits whose makers and purpose remain unknown.
In Paracas itself
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 Kiteni to other places in Peru
- Kiteni to Lampa
- Kiteni to Desaguadero
- Kiteni to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Kiteni to Tiwanaku, Bolivia
- Kiteni to Yampupata, Bolivia
- Kiteni to Yumani, Bolivia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Kiteni to Paracas?
About 10 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 451 miles.
How far is Paracas from Kiteni by car?
About 451 miles (726 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 Kiteni to Paracas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín; Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Kiteni to Paracas?
In order: PE-28B, AY-100, PE-3S, PE-28A, PE-1SE and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Kiteni and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Marayniyoq (archaeological site, mile 210, 0.3 mi from the route); Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (archaeological site, mile 347, 0.3 mi from the route); Tambo Colorado (archaeological site, mile 408, 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.