By road, Barranca and Tarma are about 252 miles (406 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 37 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NE → PE-18 → PA-100 → PE-3N → JU-645 |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Barranca–Tarma drive in a few lines
PE-1NE (64 mi) and PE-3N (57 mi) carry about 48% of the 252 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima, Pasco, Junín. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Barranca and Tarma
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 2–23 | 21 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 23–27 | 4 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1NE | 28–92 | 64 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 92–139 | 47 | Lima, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 139–174 | 35 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 174–231 | 57 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-645 | 231–242 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 242–244 | 2 | Junín |
| local roads | 244–252 | 8 | Junín |
- Mile 129 of this route: Lima → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Places worth a stop between Barranca and Tarma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acaray (mile 30)
- Nature and outdoors: Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 14), Junín National Reserve (mile 187), Cachipuquio (mile 222), Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 222)
- Museums and history: Caral (mile 16), Vichama (mile 24), Acaray (mile 30)
Albúfera de Medio Mundo
Protected since 2007 as a regional conservation area, Albufera de Medio Mundo is a brackish coastal lagoon in Végueta district, near kilometer 175 of the Panamericana Norte.
Caral
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe holds the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization, 182 km north of Lima, 23 km inland and 350 meters above sea level.
Vichama
Vichama is an archaeological site on the central Peruvian coast, on the right bank of the Huaura River in Végueta district, Huaura province, close to the shoreline.
Acaray
In the Huaura River Valley, the Fortress of Acaray is an archaeological site spread over three hilltops ringed by defensive walls with parapets and bastions.
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
In Tarma itself
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
More drives to Tarma
- Cerro de Pasco to Tarma
- Lima to Tarma
- Huánuco to Tarma
- Huaral to Tarma
- Pucallpa to Tarma
- Tarapoto to Tarma
From Barranca to other places in Peru
- Barranca to Churin
- Barranca to Aguaytía
- Barranca to Tocache
- Barranca to Juanjuí
- Barranca to Jauja
- Barranca to Satipo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barranca to Tarma?
About 6 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Tarma from Barranca by car?
About 252 miles (406 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 Tarma?
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 Tarma use?
In order: PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1NE, PE-18, PA-100, PE-3N and JU-645. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barranca and Tarma?
Closest to the road: Albúfera de Medio Mundo (estuarine lagoon, mile 14, 2 mi from the route); Vichama (archaeological site, mile 24, 2 mi from the route); Acaray (archaeological site, mile 30, 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.