Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco is about 408 road miles (657 km): roughly 10 h 58 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance by road | 408 mi (657 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | PA-101 → PA-100 → PE-18 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco is like
PE-1N (237 mi) and PE-18 (111 mi) carry about 85% of the 408 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco, 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 | 330–406 | 76 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 406–408 | 2 | La Libertad |
- 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cerro de Pasco and Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acaray (mile 142), Huaura Museum (mile 145)
- Nature and outdoors: Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Acaray (mile 142), Huaura Museum (mile 145), Las Haldas (mile 263), La Cantina (mile 275), Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez (mile 398), Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 398)
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.
Las Haldas
Las Haldas is an archaeological complex on the Pacific coast about 300 km north of Lima and 20 km south of the Casma valley, dating to before and during Peru's Initial Period.
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.
La Cantina
South of Casma, La Cantina is a little-known Early Horizon archaeological site in an area that also holds Chankillo, Cerro Sechín and Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez
Painter Gerardo Chávez created the Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez in Trujillo, La Libertad, in 2006.
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
Once you reach 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 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 is the drive from Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco?
About 10 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco?
About 408 miles (657 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 Huanchaco?
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 Huanchaco?
In order: PA-101, PA-100, PE-18, PE-1N and PE-1NQ. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cerro de Pasco to Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Acaray (archaeological site, mile 142, 0.4 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 145, 0.9 mi from the route); Las Haldas (archaeological site, mile 263, 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.