Plan on about 9 h 10 min of driving for the 331-mile (533 km) trip from Barranca to Cajabamba, before any stops.
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.”
| Total distance | 331 mi (533 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | LM-100 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LI-122 → LI-121 → LI-972 → LI-964 → PE-3N → LI-931 |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Barranca to Cajabamba is like
PE-1N (157 mi) and PE-3N (74 mi) carry about 70% of the 331 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Barranca to Cajabamba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-100 | 1–6 | 5 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 6–9 | 3 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 9–137 | 128 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 137–160 | 23 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 160–189 | 29 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 189–191 | 2 | La Libertad |
| LI-122 | 191–194 | 3 | La Libertad |
| LI-121 | 194–234 | 40 | La Libertad |
| LI-972 | 234–238 | 4 | La Libertad |
| LI-964 | 238–251 | 13 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 251–253 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 253–265 | 12 | La Libertad |
| LI-931 | 265–269 | 4 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 269–331 | 62 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
- Mile 16 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 324 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paramonga (mile 11)
- Nature and outdoors: Tuquillo (mile 66)
- Museums and history: Paramonga (mile 11), Puerto Huarmey (mile 60), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 143), Viracochapampa (mile 301)
Paramonga
Paramonga was a city built at the edge of the Chimor kingdom during the Late Intermediate Period. The archaeological site sits on the Fortaleza River near Pativilca, north of Lima.
Puerto Huarmey
Puerto Huarmey is an archaeological site of an Inca administrative center, lying in marshy ground next to the Peruvian town of Puerto Huarmey.
Tuquillo
Along the Panamericana Norte in Huarmey Province, Áncash, the Tuquillo beach circuit runs on the Pacific from Puerto Culebras to the resort of Tuquillo, roughly between km 310 and 296.
Chanquillo
Chanquillo (Chankillo) is an ancient complex in the coastal desert of Áncash, with a hilltop fort, the Thirteen Towers solar observatory, and residential and gathering areas.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto
Facing the Plaza de Armas of Nuevo Chimbote, this cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Pedro Apóstol) covers about 2,000 square meters and holds 1,600 people.
Viracochapampa
Viracochapampa holds the remains of a pre-Inca building complex in Peru that served as one of the administrative centers of the Wari culture.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Caraz to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
- Moyobamba to Cajabamba
From Barranca to other places in Peru
- Barranca to Churin
- Barranca to Aguaytía
- Barranca to Tocache
- Barranca to Juanjuí
- Barranca to Tarma
- Barranca to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barranca to Cajabamba?
About 9 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 331 miles.
How far is Cajabamba from Barranca by car?
About 331 miles (533 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 Barranca to Cajabamba drive?
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 Barranca to Cajabamba use?
In order: LM-100, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LI-122, LI-121, LI-972, LI-964, PE-3N and LI-931. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Barranca to Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 11, 0.2 mi from the route); Puerto Huarmey (archaeological site, mile 60, 1 mi from the route); Chanquillo (astronomical observatory, mile 104, 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.