Caraz to Cajabamba is about 222 road miles (358 km): roughly 6 h 49 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 | 222 mi (358 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → AN-100 → LI-943 → LI-938 → LI-115 → LI-116 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Caraz–Cajabamba drive in a few lines
PE-3N (154 mi) and AN-100 (33 mi) carry about 84% of the 222 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Caraz and Cajabamba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 1–81 | 80 | Áncash |
| AN-100 | 81–114 | 33 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 114–152 | 38 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| LI-943 | 152–159 | 7 | La Libertad |
| LI-938 | 159–173 | 14 | La Libertad |
| LI-115 | 173–178 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-116 | 178–186 | 8 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 186–222 | 36 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
- Mile 137 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Pato (mile 48), La Galgada (mile 83), Cerro Miraflores (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Pato (mile 48), Calipuy National Reserve (mile 75)
- Museums and history: La Galgada (mile 83), Marcahuamachuco (mile 191), Cerro Miraflores (mile 191)
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.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
La Galgada
On the east bank of the Tablachaca River, the chief tributary of the Santa, La Galgada is a preceramic ceremonial site of the Kotosh Religious Tradition.
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.
Cerro Miraflores
About 1.1 km northwest of Huamachuco, Cerro Miraflores is an archaeological site in the Huamachuco district of Sánchez Carrión province, La Libertad.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Barranca to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
- Moyobamba to Cajabamba
From Caraz to other places in Peru
- Caraz to Huanchaco
- Caraz to Malabrigo
- Caraz to Churin
- Caraz to Aguaytía
- Caraz to Oxapampa
- Caraz to La Merced
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Caraz to Cajabamba?
About 6 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 222 miles.
How far is Cajabamba from Caraz by car?
About 222 miles (358 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 Caraz to Cajabamba?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Caraz to Cajabamba?
In order: PE-3N, AN-100, LI-943, LI-938, LI-115 and LI-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caraz and Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 48, 0.3 mi from the route); La Galgada (archaeological site, mile 83, 0.4 mi from the route); Cerro Miraflores (archaeological site, mile 191, 0.9 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.