The Wayro route from Chiclayo to Tarapoto is 441 miles (709 km), about 10 h 13 min of driving without 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 by road | 441 mi (709 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-1NJ → PE-04B → PE-3N → PE-04C → PE-5N |
| Regions on the route | Lambayeque, Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, San Martín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Chiclayo–Tarapoto drive in a few lines
PE-5N (238 mi) and PE-3N (75 mi) carry about 71% of the 441 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Lambayeque, Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, San Martín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chiclayo to Tarapoto, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 1–6 | 5 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 6–7 | 1 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1NJ | 7–60 | 53 | Lambayeque |
| PE-04B | 60–98 | 38 | Lambayeque, Piura |
| PE-3N | 98–173 | 75 | Piura, Cajamarca |
| PE-04C | 173–201 | 28 | Amazonas |
| PE-5N | 201–439 | 238 | Amazonas, San Martín |
| local roads | 439–441 | 2 | San Martín |
- Mile 68 of this route: Lambayeque → Piura (region line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Piura → Cajamarca (region line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Cajamarca → Amazonas (region line)
- Mile 305 of this route: Amazonas → San Martín (region line)
Places worth a stop between Chiclayo and Tarapoto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 20), Ingatambo (mile 125), St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (mile 372)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata La Chinata (mile 248), Yumbilla Falls (mile 249)
- Museums and history: Túcume (mile 19), Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 20), Ingatambo (mile 125), Wilca (mile 231), St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (mile 372), Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista (mile 426)
Túcume
South of the La Leche River on a plain around La Raya Mountain, Túcume is a pre-Hispanic site covering over 540 acres with 26 major pyramids and mounds.
Museo de Sitio Túcume
The Museo de Sitio Túcume is a Peruvian site museum located in the department of Lambayeque.
Ingatambo
Ingatambo is an archaeological site in Pomahuaca District, Jaén Province, in Peru's Cajamarca Region.
Área de conservación regional Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo
The Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo regional conservation area is a protected area in Peru's Cajamarca department.
Wilca
Wilca is an archaeological site in Peru's Amazonas Region, in the eastern part of Cajaruro District, Utcubamba Province, near the border with Bongará Province.
Catarata La Chinata
With a drop of 580 meters, Catarata La Chinata ranks as Peru's fourth-highest waterfall, set in the cloud forest of Cuispes District in the Amazonas region.
Yumbilla Falls
Near the town of Cuispes in Peru's Amazonas region, Yumbilla Falls became internationally known after a 2007 survey by the Geographical Institute of Peru.
St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba
The Cathedral of St. James, also known as Moyobamba Cathedral, is the main church of the Territorial Prelature of Moyobamba and the San Martín department.
Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista
Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista is a Peruvian museum in Lamas district, in the San Martín department.
Once you reach Tarapoto
Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin
Run by the National University of San Martín in Tarapoto, this regional museum holds ethnographic and archaeological collections from the Peruvian Upper Amazon, including the 450-year-old Shimbillo-Chazuta mummy.
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
About 14 kilometers from Tarapoto along the road toward Yurimaguas, Catarata de Ahuashiyacu is a series of three waterfalls in Peru's San Martín region.
Petroglifos de Polish
The Polish Petroglyphs (Petroglifos de Polish) are rock carvings located near the city of Tarapoto in Peru's San Martín region.
More drives to Tarapoto
From Chiclayo to other places in Peru
- Chiclayo to Malabrigo
- Chiclayo to Chimbote
- Chiclayo to Casma
- Chiclayo to Caraz
- Chiclayo to Huaraz
- Chiclayo to Barranca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chiclayo to Tarapoto?
About 10 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 441 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chiclayo to Tarapoto?
About 441 miles (709 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 Chiclayo to Tarapoto?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chiclayo to Tarapoto?
In order: PE-1N, PE-1NJ, PE-04B, PE-3N, PE-04C and PE-5N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chiclayo and Tarapoto?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sitio Túcume (museum, mile 20, 0.9 mi from the route); Ingatambo (archaeological site, mile 125, 0.4 mi from the route); St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (cathedral, mile 372, 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.