Lima to Paracas is about 159 road miles (256 km): roughly 3 h 32 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 159 mi (256 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Lima to Paracas
PE-1S (144 mi) and PE-28 (7 mi) carry about 95% of the 159 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima Province, Lima, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Lima to Paracas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1N | 0–6 | 6 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 6–150 | 144 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 150–151 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 151–158 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 158–159 | 1 | Ica |
- Mile 39 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 113 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Lima and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 9), Museum Transformers (mile 12), Pachacamac site Museum (mile 22), Chilca (mile 43), La Centinela (mile 123)
- Nature and outdoors: Naplo (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World (mile 9), Huaca La Merced (mile 9), Museum Transformers (mile 12), Pachacamac site Museum (mile 22), Cerro Paloma (mile 38), Chilca (mile 43), Cerro de Oro (mile 89), 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.
Pachacamac site Museum
Inside the Pachacamac archaeological sanctuary, this Ministry of Culture site museum holds more than 6,500 registered pieces of ceramics, wood, metal and textiles, about 290 on display, including the Pachacamac Idol.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Huaral to Paracas
- Huancayo to Paracas
- Huancavelica to Paracas
- Jauja to Paracas
- Barranca to Paracas
- Churin to Paracas
From Lima to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Lima to Paracas?
About 3 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 159 miles.
How far is Paracas from Lima by car?
About 159 miles (256 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 Paracas 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 Paracas?
In order: PE-1N, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Lima and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Museum Transformers (private museum, mile 12, 0.3 mi from the route); Chilca (archaeological site, mile 43, 0.1 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 123, 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.