Cajamarca to Huaral is about 483 road miles (777 km): roughly 11 h 38 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 | 483 mi (777 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-08 → LI-571 → LI-585 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LM-101 → PE-18 → LM-667 |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Cajamarca–Huaral drive in a few lines
PE-1N (302 mi) and PE-08 (102 mi) carry about 84% of the 483 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cajamarca to Huaral
| 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 | 250–273 | 23 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| connecting roads | 273–275 | 2 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 275–431 | 156 | Áncash, Lima |
| LM-101 | 431–438 | 7 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 438–439 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 439–466 | 27 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 466–471 | 5 | Lima |
| LM-667 | 471–483 | 12 | Lima |
- Mile 104 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 252 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 395 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cajamarca and Huaral
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bandurria (mile 443)
- Nature and outdoors: Albufera El Paraíso (mile 444), Lachay National Reserve (mile 464)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 267), Puerto Huarmey (mile 350), Caral (mile 424), Bandurria (mile 443)
Huaca de la Luna
Built mainly by the Moche people, Huaca de la Luna is an adobe brick structure about 4 kilometers from Trujillo, near the mouth of the Moche River.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bandurria
About 3 km south of Huacho on the Huaura River, Bandurria is an archaeological site in the Lima Region that has been dated to 4,000 BC.
Albufera El Paraíso
In Huaura Province, in the Lima region, Albufera El Paraíso is a saltwater lagoon where crabs, lizards, great egrets and flamingos live.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
More drives to Huaral
- Pucallpa to Huaral
- Lima to Huaral
- Huancayo to Huaral
- Chimbote to Huaral
- Trujillo to Huaral
- Huaraz to Huaral
From Cajamarca to other places in Peru
- Cajamarca to Casma
- Cajamarca to Sullana
- Cajamarca to Moyobamba
- Cajamarca to Caraz
- Cajamarca to Huaraz
- Cajamarca to Máncora
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cajamarca to Huaral?
About 11 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.
How far is Huaral from Cajamarca by car?
About 483 miles (777 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 Cajamarca to Huaral?
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 Cajamarca to Huaral use?
In order: PE-08, LI-571, LI-585, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LM-101, PE-18 and LM-667. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cajamarca to Huaral?
Closest to the road: Huaca de la Luna (step pyramid, mile 183, 2 mi from the route); Puerto Huarmey (archaeological site, mile 350, 1 mi from the route); Bandurria (archaeological site, mile 443, 0.8 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.