By road, Lima and Ayacucho, Peru are about 356 miles (573 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 17 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
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.”
| Distance | 356 mi (573 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-1S → PE-28A → PE-28D → PE-28E |
| Regions on the route | Lima Province, Lima, Ica, Huancavelica, Ayacucho |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Lima to Ayacucho is like
PE-1S (134 mi) and PE-28A (130 mi) carry about 74% of the 356 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Lima Province, Lima, Ica, Huancavelica, Ayacucho. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Lima to Ayacucho
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1N | 0–6 | 6 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 6–140 | 134 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| PE-28A | 140–190 | 50 | Ica |
| PE-28D | 190–255 | 65 | Ica, Huancavelica |
| PE-28E | 255–274 | 19 | Huancavelica |
| PE-28A | 274–354 | 80 | Huancavelica, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 354–356 | 2 | Ayacucho |
- Mile 39 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Ica → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 296 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
What to see on the way from Lima to Ayacucho
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): National Museum of Peru (mile 22), Huaca Malena (mile 68), Band of Holes (mile 160), Tambo Colorado (mile 164)
- Nature and outdoors: Naplo (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Huaca La Merced (mile 9), Andrés Avelino Cáceres Museum (mile 11), National Museum of Peru (mile 22), Huaca Malena (mile 68), Cerro de Oro (mile 89), Band of Holes (mile 160), Tambo Colorado (mile 164)
Huaca La Merced
Huaca La Merced is an archaeological site in Lima's Surquillo district, declared part of Peru's cultural heritage in 2002.
Andrés Avelino Cáceres Museum
Housed in a former train station in Parque Reducto No. 2 in Miraflores, Lima, this war museum honors Marshal Andrés Avelino Cáceres, who took part in defending the redoubt during the War of the Pacific.
National Museum of Peru
Opened in July 2021 within the Pachacamac archaeological zone in Lurín, the National Museum of Peru is planned to hold pre-Columbian and Inca artifacts dating back to 5,000 BCE.
Naplo
Naplo is a beach in Pucusana District, Lima Province, known for its calm water.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Ayacucho
Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto
Carmen Alto's monumental zone is the historic core of Carmen Alto district in Huamanga province, Ayacucho, recognized as part of Peru's national cultural heritage since December 1989.
Qunchupata, Ayacucho
Qunchupata is an archaeological zone in Peru's Ayacucho region, in the Ayacucho District of Huamanga Province.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Ayacucho
Also known as Huamanga Cathedral, this Baroque cathedral in Ayacucho was declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage in 1972.
More drives to Ayacucho
From Lima to other places in Peru
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Lima to Ayacucho, Peru?
About 9 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 356 miles.
What is the driving distance from Lima to Ayacucho, Peru?
About 356 miles (573 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 Lima to Ayacucho, Peru?
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). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Lima to Ayacucho?
In order: PE-1N, PE-1S, PE-28A, PE-28D and PE-28E. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Lima and Ayacucho?
Closest to the road: National Museum of Peru (museum, mile 22, 0.5 mi from the route); Huaca Malena (archaeological site, mile 68, 0.7 mi from the route); Tambo Colorado (archaeological site, mile 164, 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.