Cajamarca to Caraz is about 360 road miles (579 km): roughly 8 h 48 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 360 mi (579 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-08 → LI-571 → LI-585 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → PE-12 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Cajamarca to Caraz: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (119 mi) and PE-08 (102 mi) carry about 61% of the 360 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cajamarca to Caraz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cajamarca |
| PE-08 | 1–103 | 102 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 103–106 | 3 | Cajamarca, La Libertad |
| LI-571 | 106–111 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 111–117 | 6 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 117–121 | 4 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 121–172 | 51 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 172–182 | 10 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 182–250 | 68 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 250–255 | 5 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-12 | 255–295 | 40 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 295–359 | 64 | Áncash |
| local roads | 359–360 | 1 | Áncash |
- Mile 104 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 252 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 286 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Places worth a stop between Cajamarca and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaca Esmeralda (mile 180), Historic Centre of Trujillo (mile 180), Cañón del Pato (mile 312)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 290), Cañón del Pato (mile 312)
- Museums and history: Huaca Esmeralda (mile 180), Historic Centre of Trujillo (mile 180)
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.
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.
Historic Centre of Trujillo
Ringed by Avenida España, laid over the old city walls, the Historic Centre of Trujillo is the historic core of the city, also known as the Cercado de Trujillo.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad 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.
Arriving in 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
- Huaraz to Caraz
- Casma to Caraz
- Barranca to Caraz
- Huánuco to Caraz
- Huaral to Caraz
- Cerro de Pasco to Caraz
From Cajamarca to other places in Peru
- Cajamarca to Casma
- Cajamarca to Sullana
- Cajamarca to Moyobamba
- Cajamarca to Huaraz
- Cajamarca to Máncora
- Cajamarca to Barranca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cajamarca to Caraz?
About 8 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 360 miles.
How far is Caraz from Cajamarca by car?
About 360 miles (579 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 Cajamarca to Caraz drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cajamarca to Caraz?
In order: PE-08, LI-571, LI-585, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, PE-12 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cajamarca to Caraz?
Closest to the road: Huaca Esmeralda (archaeological site, mile 180, 0.7 mi from the route); Historic Centre of Trujillo (historic center, mile 180, 0.2 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 312, 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.