Plan on about 5 h 20 min of driving for the 149-mile (239 km) trip from Cajabamba to Huanchaco, before any stops.
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.”
| Total distance | 149 mi (239 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → LI-116 → LI-115 → LI-931 → PE-10A → LI-1064 → LI-734 → LI-104 |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Cajabamba–Huanchaco drive in a few lines
PE-10A (35 mi) and PE-3N (20 mi) carry about 37% of the 149 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cajabamba to Huanchaco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 6–11 | 5 | Cajamarca, La Libertad |
| local roads | 11–25 | 14 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 25–30 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-116 | 30–39 | 9 | La Libertad |
| LI-115 | 39–51 | 12 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 51–61 | 10 | La Libertad |
| LI-931 | 61–65 | 4 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 65–66 | 1 | La Libertad |
| PE-10A | 66–89 | 23 | La Libertad |
| LI-1064 | 89–100 | 11 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 100–103 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-10A | 103–115 | 12 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 115–124 | 9 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 124–129 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-734 | 129–135 | 6 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 135–142 | 7 | La Libertad |
| LI-104 | 142–148 | 6 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 148–149 | 1 | La Libertad |
- Mile 7 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
What to see on the way from Cajabamba to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Viracochapampa (mile 22), Caballo Muerto (mile 131), Huaca de los Reyes (mile 132), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Viracochapampa (mile 22), Marcahuamachuco (mile 24), Caballo Muerto (mile 131), Huaca de los Reyes (mile 132), Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez (mile 138), Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (mile 140), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 142)
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.
Marcahuamachuco
Pre-Inca ruins in Peru's La Libertad Region make up Marcahuamachuco, an archaeological site worth a stop for road-trippers in the area.
Caballo Muerto
In the Moche Valley's Laredo District, La Libertad, Caballo Muerto is an archaeological complex of mound sites spanning the Initial Period and the Early Horizon.
Huaca de los Reyes
Part of the Caballo Muerto complex on Peru's north coast, Huaca de los Reyes is a pre-Hispanic structure from the Formative period.
Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez
Painter Gerardo Chávez created the Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez in Trujillo, La Libertad, in 2006.
Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo
Run by the National University of Trujillo, this museum of archaeology, anthropology and history holds collections from the pre-Hispanic societies that developed on Peru's north coast.
Huaca Esmeralda
Huaca Esmeralda is an adobe building of the Chimú culture in Trujillo, believed to date from the culture's first stage of development and closely linked to its capital, Chan Chan.
In Huanchaco itself
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 Cajabamba to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cajabamba to Huanchaco?
About 5 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 149 miles.
How far is Huanchaco from Cajabamba by car?
About 149 miles (239 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 Cajabamba to Huanchaco 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 Cajabamba to Huanchaco use?
In order: PE-3N, LI-116, LI-115, LI-931, PE-10A, LI-1064, LI-734 and LI-104. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cajabamba and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Viracochapampa (archaeological site, mile 22, 0.2 mi from the route); Huaca de los Reyes (archaeological site, mile 132, 0.7 mi from the route); Huaca Esmeralda (archaeological site, mile 142, 0.3 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.