Plan on about 13 h 30 min of driving for the 501-mile (807 km) trip from Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba, 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 | 501 mi (807 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | PA-101 → PA-100 → PE-18 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LI-122 → LI-121 → LI-972 → LI-964 → PE-3N → LI-931 |
| Regions on the route | Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba drive plays out
PE-1N (190 mi) and PE-18 (111 mi) carry about 60% of the 501 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Pasco |
| PA-101 | 1–4 | 3 | Pasco |
| PA-100 | 4–34 | 30 | Pasco |
| PE-18 | 34–145 | 111 | Pasco, Lima |
| PE-1N | 145–306 | 161 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 306–330 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 330–359 | 29 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 359–360 | 1 | La Libertad |
| LI-122 | 360–365 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-121 | 365–404 | 39 | La Libertad |
| LI-972 | 404–408 | 4 | La Libertad |
| LI-964 | 408–421 | 13 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 421–423 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 423–436 | 13 | La Libertad |
| LI-931 | 436–439 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 439–501 | 62 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
- Mile 45 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 493 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cerro de Pasco and Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acaray (mile 142), Huaura Museum (mile 145), Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (mile 175), Paramonga (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 158), Tuquillo (mile 236)
- Museums and history: Acaray (mile 142), Huaura Museum (mile 145), Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (mile 175), Paramonga (mile 180), Cerro Sechín (mile 280), Viracochapampa (mile 470)
Acaray
In the Huaura River Valley, the Fortress of Acaray is an archaeological site spread over three hilltops ringed by defensive walls with parapets and bastions.
Huaura Museum
Known as the Huaura Balcony, this museum in Huaura honors José de San Martín and the Liberating Expedition of Peru, housed in a colonial-era house once used by the Royal Customs of Lima.
Albúfera de Medio Mundo
Protected since 2007 as a regional conservation area, Albufera de Medio Mundo is a brackish coastal lagoon in Végueta district, near kilometer 175 of the Panamericana Norte.
Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca
Half a block from the Plaza de Armas of Pativilca, this museum occupies the house where Simón Bolívar kept his headquarters in 1823, showing paintings, books and objects from his era.
Paramonga
Paramonga was a city built at the edge of the Chimor kingdom during the Late Intermediate Period. The archaeological site sits on the Fortaleza River near Pativilca, north of Lima.
Tuquillo
Along the Panamericana Norte in Huarmey Province, Áncash, the Tuquillo beach circuit runs on the Pacific from Puerto Culebras to the resort of Tuquillo, roughly between km 310 and 296.
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.
Cerro Sechín
Cerro Sechín is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Áncash Region, dating to around 1600 BC. Peruvian archaeologists Julio C. Tello and Toribio Mejía Xesspe found it in July 1937.
Viracochapampa
Viracochapampa holds the remains of a pre-Inca building complex in Peru that served as one of the administrative centers of the Wari culture.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Caraz to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Barranca to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
From Cerro de Pasco to other places in Peru
- Cerro de Pasco to Aguaytía
- Cerro de Pasco to Tocache
- Cerro de Pasco to Moyobamba
- Cerro de Pasco to Tarma
- Cerro de Pasco to Jauja
- Cerro de Pasco to Satipo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba?
About 13 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba?
About 501 miles (807 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 Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco to Cajabamba?
In order: PA-101, PA-100, PE-18, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LI-122, LI-121, LI-972, LI-964, PE-3N and LI-931. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cerro de Pasco and Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Acaray (archaeological site, mile 142, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (museum, mile 175, 0.3 mi from the route); Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 180, 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.