Cajamarca to Tumbes is about 466 road miles (750 km): roughly 10 h 12 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 | 466 mi (750 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-08 → PE-1N |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Cajamarca–Tumbes drive in a few lines
PE-1N (349 mi) and PE-08 (105 mi) carry about 97% of the 466 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cajamarca and Tumbes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cajamarca |
| PE-08 | 1–106 | 105 | Cajamarca, La Libertad |
| local roads | 106–111 | 5 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 111–112 | 1 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 112–155 | 43 | La Libertad, Lambayeque |
| local roads | 155–158 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 158–160 | 2 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 160–466 | 306 | Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes |
- Mile 104 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 129 of this route: La Libertad → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Lambayeque → Piura (region line)
- Mile 402 of this route: Piura → Tumbes (region line)
What to see on the way from Cajamarca to Tumbes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): San Jose de Moro (mile 116), Úcupe (mile 134), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 157), Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 164)
- Museums and history: San Jose de Moro (mile 116), La Otra Banda (mile 134), Úcupe (mile 134), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 157), Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 164), Centro histórico de Piura (mile 286), Casa Museo Gran Almirante Grau (mile 286)
San Jose de Moro
San Jose de Moro is a Moche archaeological site in the Pacanga District of Chepén Province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
La Otra Banda
Near the hamlet of La Otra Banda, south of Zaña in Lambayeque, archaeologists from Chicago's Field Museum uncovered a 4,000-year-old temple and theater in June 2024.
Úcupe
Úcupe, 39 km from Chiclayo near the Saña River, is an archaeological zone of the Moche and Sicán cultures, including Huaca Limón and Huaca El Pueblo, where the Lord of Úcupe was found.
St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo
Chiclayo Cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Chiclayo, is a neoclassical church begun in 1869 to plans commissioned from Gustave Eiffel.
Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum
Lambayeque's Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum displays most of the key artifacts archaeologist Walter Alva found at Huaca Rajada in 1987, including the Lord of Sipán and his entourage.
Centro histórico de Piura
The founding core of Piura, its historic center lies between Bolognesi, Loreto and San Teodoro avenues and the Piura River and was declared Cultural Heritage of Peru in 1987.
Casa Museo Gran Almirante Grau
In Piura's historic center, this house museum is the home where Admiral Miguel Grau, known for his role in the War of the Pacific, was born on July 27, 1834.
Once you reach Tumbes
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes
Also called the Church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Tumbes, in northern Peru.
Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes
Cabeza de Vaca is an archaeological site in Peru's Corrales District, in the Tumbes Province of the Tumbes Region.
Museo de Sitio de Cabeza de Vaca “Gran Chilimasa”
In the Corrales district of Tumbes, the Cabeza de Vaca "Gran Chilimasa" site museum displays archaeological finds, photographs and plans produced during research and excavations at the site.
More drives to Tumbes
- Trujillo to Tumbes
- Chimbote to Tumbes
- Portoviejo to Tumbes, Peru
- Manta to Tumbes, Peru
- Ibarra to Tumbes, Peru
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 does it take to drive from Cajamarca to Tumbes?
About 10 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 466 miles.
How far is Tumbes from Cajamarca by car?
About 466 miles (750 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 Tumbes 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 Cajamarca to Tumbes use?
In order: PE-08 and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cajamarca and Tumbes?
Closest to the road: San Jose de Moro (archaeological site, mile 116, 0.1 mi from the route); Úcupe (archaeological site, mile 134, 0.5 mi from the route); Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (museum, mile 164, 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.