Lima to Huacachina is about 189 road miles (304 km): roughly 4 h 16 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.”
| Total distance | 189 mi (304 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-1S |
| Regions on the route | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Lima to Huacachina drive plays out
PE-1S (180 mi) and PE-1N (6 mi) carry about 98% of the 189 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima Province, Lima, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Lima and Huacachina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1N | 0–6 | 6 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 6–186 | 180 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| local roads | 186–189 | 3 | Ica |
- Mile 39 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 113 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
What to see on the way from Lima to Huacachina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 9), Museum Transformers (mile 12), National Museum of Peru (mile 22), Chilca (mile 43), Huaca Malena (mile 68), La Centinela (mile 123)
- Museums and history: Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 9), Huaca La Merced (mile 9), Museum Transformers (mile 12), National Museum of Peru (mile 22), Cerro Paloma (mile 38), Chilca (mile 43), Huaca Malena (mile 68), La Centinela (mile 123)
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.
Huaca La Merced
Huaca La Merced is an archaeological site in Lima's Surquillo district, declared part of Peru's cultural heritage in 2002.
Museum Transformers
Museum Transformers (Museo Transformers) is a privately run museum located in the city of Lima, Peru.
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.
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.
Chilca
Near the town of Chilca in Cañete province, this archaeological site holds remains of an early Archaic village uncovered in 1963 by Swiss archaeologist Frédéric Engel.
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.
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 Huacachina
St. Jerome Cathedral, Ica
Also called Ica Cathedral, St. Jerome Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Ica, Peru.
Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins"
Ica's regional archaeological museum, named for Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins, focuses on the different Indigenous cultures that lived in Peru.
More drives to Huacachina
- Huaral to Huacachina
- Barranca to Huacachina
- Churin to Huacachina
- Tarma to Huacachina
- Cerro de Pasco to Huacachina
- Oxapampa to Huacachina
From Lima to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Lima to Huacachina?
About 4 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 189 miles.
How far is Huacachina from Lima by car?
About 189 miles (304 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 Huacachina 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 Huacachina?
In order: PE-1N and PE-1S. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Lima to Huacachina?
Closest to the road: Museum Transformers (private museum, mile 12, 0.3 mi from the route); National Museum of Peru (museum, mile 22, 0.5 mi from the route); Chilca (archaeological site, mile 43, 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.