Caraz to Huanchaco is about 188 road miles (303 km): roughly 5 h 3 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 | 188 mi (303 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-12 → PE-1NQ → PE-1N |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Caraz to Huanchaco
PE-1N (75 mi) and PE-3N (64 mi) carry about 74% of the 188 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Caraz to Huanchaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 1–65 | 64 | Áncash |
| PE-12 | 65–105 | 40 | Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 105–110 | 5 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 110–185 | 75 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 185–188 | 3 | La Libertad |
- Mile 108 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Pato (mile 48)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Pato (mile 48), Calipuy National Reserve (mile 70)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (mile 178)
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.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
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.
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.
When you get to Huanchaco
Chan Chan
Five kilometers west of Trujillo, Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimor kingdom and is now an archaeological site in the La Libertad region.
Huaca del Dragón
Near Chan Chan in Trujillo, Huaca del Dragón, also called Huaca del Arco Iris, is an archaeological site that served as a religious, administrative and ceremonial center.
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.
More drives to Huanchaco
- Chimbote to Huanchaco
- Casma to Huanchaco
- Barranca to Huanchaco
- Huaral to Huanchaco
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
From Caraz to other places in Peru
- Caraz to Malabrigo
- Caraz to Churin
- Caraz to Aguaytía
- Caraz to Oxapampa
- Caraz to La Merced
- Caraz to Satipo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Caraz to Huanchaco?
About 5 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 188 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caraz to Huanchaco?
About 188 miles (303 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 Caraz to Huanchaco drive?
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 Huanchaco?
In order: PE-3N, PE-12, PE-1NQ and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caraz and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 48, 0.3 mi from the route); Huaca de la Luna (step pyramid, mile 176, 2 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (museum, mile 178, 1 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.