By road, Quillabamba and Paracas are about 531 miles (854 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 41 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba.
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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 531 mi (854 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28B → AY-100 → PE-3S → PE-28A → PE-1SE → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Quillabamba–Paracas drive in a few lines
PE-28B (219 mi) and PE-28A (202 mi) carry about 79% of the 531 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica. Of the 8 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Quillabamba to Paracas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-28B | 0–219 | 219 | Cusco, Ayacucho |
| local roads | 219–252 | 33 | Ayacucho |
| AY-100 | 252–277 | 25 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | Ayacucho |
| PE-3S | 278–307 | 29 | Ayacucho |
| connecting roads | 307–309 | 2 | Ayacucho |
| PE-28A | 309–511 | 202 | Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Ica |
| connecting roads | 511–513 | 2 | Ica |
| PE-1SE | 513–522 | 9 | Ica |
| connecting roads | 522–523 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 523–529 | 6 | Ica |
| local roads | 529–531 | 2 | Ica |
- Mile 164 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Ayacucho → Cusco (region line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Cusco → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 355 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Huancavelica → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 386 of this route: Ayacucho → Huancavelica (region line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Huancavelica → Ica (region line)
Places worth a stop between Quillabamba and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marayniyoq (mile 289), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 308), Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto (mile 309), Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 427), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 442), Tambo Colorado (mile 488), Band of Holes (mile 492)
- Museums and history: Marayniyoq (mile 289), Museo de Sitio de Wari (mile 296), Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" (mile 308), Zona Monumental de Carmen Alto (mile 309), Inka Wasi, Huancavelica (mile 427), Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (mile 442), Tambo Colorado (mile 488), Band of Holes (mile 492)
Marayniyoq
Marayniyoq, also written Marayniyoc, is an archaeological site in Peru's Ayacucho region on a plain called Vega Pampa, southeast of Huanta and southwest of Huamanguilla.
Museo de Sitio de Wari
Near the Wari archaeological complex in Ayacucho, the Museo de Sitio de Wari displays ceramics, bone remains and stone objects found during research excavations.
Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita"
In Ayacucho, the Museo de la Memoria "Para que no se repita" remembers the years of terrorism in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s. Families of the disappeared (ANFASEP) built it, opening it in October 2005.
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.
Inka Wasi, Huancavelica
Inka Wasi is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, where the remains of an Inca palace are regarded as one of the region's most important monuments.
Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano"
Housed in the former Huaytará provincial council building in the Huancavelica region, the Museo Arqueológico Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano is an archaeology museum.
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.
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.
Once you reach 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
From Quillabamba to other places in Peru
- Quillabamba to Ollantaytambo
- Quillabamba to Urubamba
- Quillabamba to Yucay
- Quillabamba to Maras
- Quillabamba to Chinchero
- Quillabamba to Písac
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quillabamba to Paracas?
About 11 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 531 miles.
How far is Paracas from Quillabamba by car?
About 531 miles (854 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 Quillabamba to Paracas?
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; Peru: the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Quillabamba to Paracas?
In order: PE-28B, AY-100, PE-3S, PE-28A, PE-1SE and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quillabamba and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Marayniyoq (archaeological site, mile 289, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico "Samuel Humberto Espinoza Lozano" (museum, mile 442, 0.2 mi from the route); Tambo Colorado (archaeological site, mile 488, 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.