By road, Aguaytía and Huanchaco are about 498 miles (801 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 60 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 498 mi (801 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → PE-12A → PE-3N → PE-12 → PE-1NQ → PE-1N |
| Regions on the route | Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Aguaytía to Huanchaco: the shape of the trip
PE-12A (223 mi) and PE-5N (126 mi) carry about 70% of the 498 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Aguaytía to Huanchaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-5N | 0–126 | 126 | Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín |
| PE-12A | 126–349 | 223 | San Martín, Huánuco, La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-3N | 349–375 | 26 | Áncash |
| PE-12 | 375–414 | 39 | Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 414–419 | 5 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 419–495 | 76 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 495–498 | 3 | La Libertad |
- Mile 32 of this route: Ucayali → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 154 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 246 of this route: Huánuco → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 252 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
What to see on the way from Aguaytía to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ducha del Diablo (mile 13), Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia (mile 14), Cañón del Pato (mile 358)
- Nature and outdoors: Ducha del Diablo (mile 13), Cañón del Pato (mile 358), Calipuy National Reserve (mile 380)
- Museums and history: Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (mile 487)
Ducha del Diablo
Ducha del Diablo is a waterfall with a drop of about 105 m in the Ucayali department of central-eastern Peru.
Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia
Velo de la Novia Regional Conservation Area is a protected natural area in Padre Abad Province, in Peru's Ucayali region.
Cañón del Pato
Carved by the Santa River where the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra come closest, Cañón del Pato is a narrow river canyon in the Áncash region.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
Huaca de la Luna
Built mainly by the Moche people, Huaca de la Luna is an adobe brick structure about 4 kilometers from Trujillo, near the mouth of the Moche River.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
About five kilometers south of Trujillo in Moche District, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are a Moche sanctuary made up of adobe pyramids and monuments.
Once you reach Huanchaco
Chan Chan
Five kilometers west of Trujillo, Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimor kingdom and is now an archaeological site in the La Libertad region.
Huaca del Dragón
Near Chan Chan in Trujillo, Huaca del Dragón, also called Huaca del Arco Iris, is an archaeological site that served as a religious, administrative and ceremonial center.
Swamps of Huanchaco
Also called the Wetlands of Huanchaco, this reserve at Huanchaco Beach, about 14 km northwest of Trujillo, supplied the reeds that the Moche used to build caballitos de totora fishing boats.
More drives to Huanchaco
- Chimbote to Huanchaco
- Casma to Huanchaco
- Barranca to Huanchaco
- Huaral to Huanchaco
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
From Aguaytía to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Aguaytía to Huanchaco?
About 13 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
What is the driving distance from Aguaytía to Huanchaco?
About 498 miles (801 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 Aguaytía to Huanchaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Aguaytía to Huanchaco?
In order: PE-5N, PE-12A, PE-3N, PE-12, PE-1NQ and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Aguaytía and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Ducha del Diablo (waterfall, mile 13, 0.1 mi from the route); Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia (nature area, mile 14, 0.2 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 358, 0.2 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.