The Wayro route from Yucay to Paracas is 551 miles (886 km), about 14 h 57 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
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 | 551 mi (886 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 14 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-28F → CU-111 → PE-3S → CU-606 → AP-650 → PE-30A → PE-1S → PE-28 |
| Regions on the route | Cusco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Yucay to Paracas drive plays out
PE-30A (276 mi) and PE-1S (120 mi) carry about 72% of the 551 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cusco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Yucay to Paracas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cusco |
| PE-28F | 1–12 | 11 | Cusco |
| CU-111 | 12–21 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 21–33 | 12 | Cusco |
| local roads | 33–39 | 6 | Cusco |
| CU-606 | 39–57 | 18 | Cusco |
| local roads | 57–66 | 9 | Cusco |
| PE-3S | 66–133 | 67 | Cusco, Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 133–137 | 4 | Apurímac |
| AP-650 | 137–140 | 3 | Apurímac |
| connecting roads | 140–142 | 2 | Apurímac |
| PE-30A | 142–418 | 276 | Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica |
| PE-1S | 418–452 | 34 | Ica |
| local roads | 452–456 | 4 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 456–542 | 86 | Ica |
| PE-28 | 542–549 | 7 | Ica |
| local roads | 549–551 | 2 | Ica |
- Mile 78 of this route: Cusco → Apurímac (region line)
- Mile 252 of this route: Apurímac → Ayacucho (region line)
- Mile 396 of this route: Ayacucho → Ica (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Yucay and Paracas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Killarumiyuq (mile 34), Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (mile 130), Cantalloc Aqueducts (mile 416), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 417), Nazca lines (mile 436), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 436), Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (mile 506)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (mile 130), Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve (mile 362)
- Museums and history: Killarumiyuq (mile 34), Tarahuasi (mile 66), Cantalloc Aqueducts (mile 416), Museo Arqueológico Antonini (mile 417), Museo Maria Reiche (mile 436), Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (mile 506)
Killarumiyuq
Killarumiyuq is an archaeological park in Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Tarahuasi
Tarahuasi is an archaeological site in Limatambo District, Anta Province, in Peru's Cusco Region.
Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa
Perched on a hill about 9 km from Abancay, Parque Ecológico de Taraccasa (Mirador de Taraccasa) has play areas, an artificial lagoon, a zoo, a cross and views over the city.
Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve
Set in the Lucanas Province of Ayacucho, Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve exists mainly to protect the habitat of the vicuña.
Cantalloc Aqueducts
About 3 km east of Nazca, the Cantalloc Aqueducts are part of a system of more than 40 aqueducts built by the Nazca culture and used year-round.
Museo Arqueológico Antonini
On Avenida de la Cultura in Nazca, the Museo Arqueológico Antonini holds many of the finds recovered by the Italian archaeological mission Proyecto Nasca (1982–2011).
Nazca lines
Scratched into the Nazca Desert of southern Peru between 500 BC and 500 AD, the Nazca lines are geoglyphs made by removing surface pebbles to expose different-colored ground.
Museo Maria Reiche
Opened in 1994, Museo Maria Reiche (Casa Museo Maria Reiche) is a house museum at kilometer 421.3 of the Pan-American Highway South in El Ingenio district, about 27.5 km from Nasca and 21.3 km from Palpa.
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.
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 Yucay to other places in Peru
- Yucay to Kiteni
- Yucay to Lampa
- Yucay to Desaguadero
- Yucay to Copacabana, Bolivia
- Yucay to Tiwanaku, Bolivia
- Yucay to Yumani, Bolivia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Yucay to Paracas?
About 14 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
What is the driving distance from Yucay to Paracas?
About 551 miles (886 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 Yucay 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). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Yucay to Paracas use?
In order: PE-28F, CU-111, PE-3S, CU-606, AP-650, PE-30A, PE-1S and PE-28. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Yucay to Paracas?
Closest to the road: Cantalloc Aqueducts (archaeological site, mile 416, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Maria Reiche (museum, mile 436, 0.0 mi from the route); Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" (anthropology museum, mile 506, 0.4 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.