La Merced to Paracas is about 337 road miles (542 km): roughly 9 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 337 mi (542 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-22B → JU-645 → PE-3N → PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The La Merced–Paracas drive in a few lines
PE-1S (144 mi) and PE-22 (95 mi) carry about 71% of the 337 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from La Merced to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-22B | 0–42 | 42 | Junín |
| local roads | 42–48 | 6 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 48–61 | 13 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 61–76 | 15 | Junín |
| PE-22 | 76–107 | 31 | Junín |
| LM-618 | 107–112 | 5 | Junín, Lima |
| PE-22 | 112–176 | 64 | Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 176–183 | 7 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 183–327 | 144 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 327–329 | 2 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 329–336 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 336–337 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 109 of this route: Junín → Lima (region line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Stops between La Merced and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puruchuco (mile 180), Peruvian Japanese National Planetarium Mutsumi Ishitsuka (mile 180), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 186), La Centinela (mile 301)
- Nature and outdoors: La Herradura, Lima (mile 190), Naplo (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Tarma (mile 42), Puruchuco (mile 180), Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 186), Cerro Paloma (mile 216), Cerro de Oro (mile 267), La Centinela (mile 301)
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.
Puruchuco
Puruchuco, in Lima's Ate District, is an archaeological site that served as an administrative center during the Inca period.
Peruvian Japanese National Planetarium Mutsumi Ishitsuka
In Lima's Ate district, the Peruvian Japanese National Planetarium Mutsumi Ishitsuka belongs to the Geophysical Institute of Peru.
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.
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.
Cerro Paloma
About 65 km south of Lima, Cerro Paloma is an archaeological site where Swiss archaeologist Frédéric Engel uncovered layered Preceramic villages in 1966.
Naplo
Naplo is a beach in Pucusana District, Lima Province, known for its calm water.
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
- Jauja to Paracas
- Barranca to Paracas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Merced to Paracas?
About 9 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Merced to Paracas?
About 337 miles (542 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 La Merced to Paracas?
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 La Merced to Paracas use?
In order: PE-22B, JU-645, PE-3N, PE-22, LM-618, 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 La Merced to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Puruchuco (archaeological site, mile 180, 0.4 mi from the route); Peruvian Japanese National Planetarium Mutsumi Ishitsuka (planetarium, mile 180, 0.6 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 301, 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.