Barranca to Caraz is about 176 road miles (283 km): roughly 3 h 56 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 176 mi (283 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | LM-100 → PE-16 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Barranca to Caraz
PE-3N (93 mi) and PE-16 (75 mi) carry about 95% of the 176 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Lima, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Barranca to Caraz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-100 | 1–6 | 5 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 6–8 | 2 | Lima |
| PE-16 | 8–83 | 75 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-3N | 83–176 | 93 | Áncash |
- Mile 31 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
Stops between Barranca and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaricoto (mile 149), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 165)
- Nature and outdoors: Huascarán National Park (mile 138), Chancos Hot Springs (mile 149), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Paramonga (mile 8), Hatun Machay (mile 88), Huancajirca (mile 134), Sala de exhibición del Monumento Arqueológico de Willkawaín (mile 136), Huaricoto (mile 149), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 165)
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.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
Mirador de Rataquenua
From this natural lookout on Rataquenua hill, at about 3,314 meters on the southeast side of Huaraz, you can see the city and part of the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca.
Huancajirca
Near Huaraz in the Áncash region, Huancajirca (Huanca Jirca) is an archaeological site with evidence of occupation in the Early Horizon and Middle Horizon periods.
Sala de exhibición del Monumento Arqueológico de Willkawaín
This small exhibition hall in the Independencia district of Huaraz displays ceramics recovered from the Willkawaín archaeological site.
Huascarán National Park
Protecting most of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, Huascarán National Park covers about 840,000 acres of the central Andes and is managed by Peru's SERNANP.
Chancos Hot Springs
Owned and run by the Vicos farming community, Chancos Hot Springs (Baños termales de Chancos) is a thermal mineral spring in Marcará district, about 30 km from Huaraz.
Huaricoto
In Marcará district of Áncash, Huaricoto holds the remains of a ceremonial center used from the Late Archaic through the Formative period, about 2800 to 200 BC.
Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca
In Ranrahirca, in Áncash's Yungay Province, this archaeology, anthropology and natural history museum keeps a collection of the region's plants and animals.
Once you reach Caraz
Tumshukayko
Near Caraz in Ancash's Huaylas Province, Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archaeological site discovered only recently and still under research.
Caraz Museum
The Caraz Museum, officially the Museo Municipal Hernán Osorio Herrera, is a municipal museum in Caraz district, Huaylas Province, in Peru's Ancash region.
More drives to Caraz
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 does it take to drive from Barranca to Caraz?
About 3 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 176 miles.
How far is Caraz from Barranca by car?
About 176 miles (283 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 Barranca to Caraz?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Barranca to Caraz?
In order: LM-100, PE-16 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barranca and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Mirador de Rataquenua (scenic viewpoint, mile 132, 1 mi from the route); Huaricoto (archaeological site, mile 149, 0.4 mi from the route); Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (museum, mile 165, 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.