Tarma to Paracas is about 288 road miles (463 km): roughly 8 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance | 288 mi (463 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-22B → JU-656 → PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Tarma to Paracas is like
PE-1S (145 mi) and PE-22 (95 mi) carry about 83% of the 288 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Lima, Lima Province, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tarma to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-22B | 0–6 | 6 | Junín |
| JU-656 | 6–26 | 20 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 26–27 | 1 | Junín |
| PE-22 | 27–58 | 31 | Junín |
| LM-618 | 58–63 | 5 | Junín, Lima |
| PE-22 | 63–127 | 64 | Lima, Lima Province |
| local roads | 127–134 | 7 | Lima Province |
| PE-1S | 134–279 | 145 | Lima Province, Lima, Ica |
| connecting roads | 279–280 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 280–286 | 6 | Ica |
| local roads | 286–288 | 2 | Ica |
- Mile 60 of this route: Junín → Lima (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Lima → Ica (region line)
What to see on the way from Tarma to Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (mile 131), Museum Transformers (mile 140), La Centinela (mile 252)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez (mile 135), La Pampilla (mile 139), Naplo (mile 170)
- Museums and history: Cajamarquilla (mile 128), Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (mile 131), Huaca Túpac Amaru A (mile 136), Museum Transformers (mile 140), Cerro de Oro (mile 218), La Centinela (mile 252)
Cajamarquilla
In the Jicamarca Valley about 25 kilometers inland from Lima, Cajamarquilla is an archaeological site covering roughly 167 hectares, among the largest archaeological monuments in Peru.
Museo de Sitio Puruchuco
Run by Peru's Ministry of Culture, the Puruchuco site museum (Museo de Sitio Arturo Jiménez Borja) in Lima's Ate district opened in 1960.
Jardín botánico Octavio Velarde Núñez
Run by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, the Octavio Velarde Núñez Botanical Garden covers about 2 hectares in Lima.
Huaca Túpac Amaru A
Huaca Túpac Amaru A is a rectangular platform in Lima's San Luis district, linked to the Lima and Ychsma cultures and once an administrative center controlling water from the Huatica canal.
La Pampilla
Part of the Costa Verde beach circuit in Miraflores, Lima, La Pampilla is a beach that locals have used for surfing and swimming since the early 1970s.
Museum Transformers
Museum Transformers (Museo Transformers) is a privately run museum located in the city of Lima, Peru.
Naplo
Naplo is a beach in Pucusana District, Lima Province, known for its calm water.
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.
Arriving in 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 Tarma to other places in Peru
- Tarma to Aguaytía
- Tarma to Tocache
- Tarma to Moyobamba
- Tarma to Satipo
- Tarma to Huancavelica
- Tarma to Casma
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarma to Paracas?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 288 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tarma to Paracas?
About 288 miles (463 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 Tarma to Paracas?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tarma to Paracas use?
In order: PE-22B, JU-656, PE-22, LM-618, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tarma and Paracas?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sitio Puruchuco (museum, mile 131, 0.4 mi from the route); Museum Transformers (private museum, mile 140, 0.2 mi from the route); La Centinela (archaeological site, mile 252, 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.