Plan on about 8 h 51 min of driving for the 389-mile (626 km) trip from Cajamarca to Huaraz, before any stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance | 389 mi (626 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-08 → LI-571 → LI-585 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → PE-14A |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Cajamarca to Huaraz: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (144 mi) and PE-08 (102 mi) carry about 63% of the 389 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cajamarca to Huaraz
| 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 | 275–300 | 25 | Áncash |
| PE-14A | 300–386 | 86 | Áncash |
| local roads | 386–389 | 3 | Áncash |
- Mile 104 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 252 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Huaraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 180), Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (mile 180), Pallka (mile 326)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 180), Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (mile 180), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 267), Mojeque (mile 303), Pallka (mile 326)
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.
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
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.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
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.
Mojeque
Also called Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke, Mojeque is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Ancash, that archaeologists believe served as a temple or religious structure.
Pallka
Pallka (also spelled Pallca) is an archaeological site of a monumental Formative-period settlement in the middle Casma Valley, east of the town of Casma and south of Yaután.
When you get to Huaraz
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.
Wilcahuaín
At about 3,400 m, Wilcahuaín is an archaeological site near the village of Paria, 6 km northeast of Huaraz, Ancash.
Pumacayán
Sitting at 3,100 meters inside the city of Huaraz, Pumacayán is an archaeological site also known as cerro or morro de Pumacayán.
More drives to Huaraz
- Chimbote to Huaraz
- Huánuco to Huaraz
- Trujillo to Huaraz
- Lima to Huaraz
- Huancayo to Huaraz
- Chiclayo to Huaraz
From Cajamarca to other places in Peru
- Cajamarca to Casma
- Cajamarca to Sullana
- Cajamarca to Moyobamba
- Cajamarca to Caraz
- Cajamarca to Máncora
- Cajamarca to Barranca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cajamarca to Huaraz?
About 8 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 389 miles.
How far is Huaraz from Cajamarca by car?
About 389 miles (626 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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz?
In order: PE-08, LI-571, LI-585, PE-1N, PE-1NQ and PE-14A. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cajamarca and Huaraz?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Trujillo (basilica, mile 180, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (museum, mile 180, 0.6 mi from the route); Pallka (archaeological site, mile 326, 0.6 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.