Plan on about 4 h 59 min of driving for the 157-mile (252 km) trip from Lima to Cerro de Pasco, before any 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 | 157 mi (252 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-20A → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Lima Province, Lima, Junín, Pasco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Lima to Cerro de Pasco drive plays out
PE-20A (119 mi) and PE-3N (9 mi) carry about 82% of the 157 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Lima Province, Lima, Junín, Pasco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Lima to Cerro de Pasco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lima Province |
| PE-1N | 1–8 | 7 | Lima Province |
| local roads | 8–25 | 17 | Lima Province |
| PE-20A | 25–144 | 119 | Lima Province, Lima, Junín, Pasco |
| PE-3N | 144–153 | 9 | Pasco |
| local roads | 153–157 | 4 | Pasco |
- Mile 27 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Lima → Junín (region line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
Places worth a stop between Lima and Cerro de Pasco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaca Sinchi Roca (mile 12), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 13), Huaca Templo Con Con (mile 16), Buena Vista (mile 27), Huayllay National Sanctuary (mile 126), Huayllay stone forest (mile 126)
- Nature and outdoors: Huayllay stone forest (mile 126)
- Museums and history: Huaca Sinchi Roca (mile 12), Fortaleza de Collique (mile 13), Huaca Templo Con Con (mile 16), Buena Vista (mile 27), Huayllay stone forest (mile 126)
Huaca Sinchi Roca
Huaca Sinchi Roca is an archaeological site located in the Comas district of Lima, Peru's capital.
Fortaleza de Collique
In Lima's Comas district, the Fortaleza de Collique archaeological site was an administrative and religious center of the Colli lordship and the residence of its curaca, Collicápac.
Huaca Templo Con Con
Huaca Templo Con Con, also known as the Temple of Kon, is an archaeological zone in Lima's Carabayllo district that served as a religious center for the cult of the god Con.
Buena Vista
About an hour's drive north of Lima in the Chillón River Valley, Buena Vista is a 20-acre archaeological site in the Andean foothills of Santa Rosa de Quives District.
Huayllay National Sanctuary
On the Meseta de Bombón in Pasco, Huayllay National Sanctuary is known for the rock formations of the Huayllay rock forest and its native plants and animals.
Huayllay stone forest
At 4,310 meters in Pasco, the Huayllay stone forest spreads over 6,000 hectares and has been protected since 1974 as the Huayllay National Sanctuary.
More drives to Cerro de Pasco
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
- Pucallpa to Cerro de Pasco
- Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco
- Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco
- Huancayo to Cerro de Pasco
- Trujillo to Cerro de Pasco
From Lima to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lima to Cerro de Pasco?
About 4 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 157 miles.
What is the driving distance from Lima to Cerro de Pasco?
About 157 miles (252 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 Lima to Cerro de Pasco drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Lima to Cerro de Pasco?
In order: PE-1N, PE-20A and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Lima to Cerro de Pasco?
Closest to the road: Buena Vista (archaeological site, mile 27, 0.1 mi from the route); Huayllay National Sanctuary (nature area, mile 126, 0.1 mi from the route); Huayllay stone forest (archaeological site, mile 126, 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.