Chiclayo to Tocache is about 501 road miles (806 km): roughly 13 h 28 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 | 501 mi (806 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LI-508 → LI-585 → PE-1NQ → PE-12 → PE-3N → PE-12A → SM-111 |
| Regions on the route | Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash, Huánuco, San Martín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Chiclayo to Tocache drive plays out
PE-12A (211 mi) and PE-1N (158 mi) carry about 74% of the 501 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash, Huánuco, San Martín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chiclayo to Tocache
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 4–35 | 31 | Lambayeque, La Libertad |
| LI-508 | 35–47 | 12 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 47–54 | 7 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 54–56 | 2 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 56–62 | 6 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 62–65 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 65–117 | 52 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 117–126 | 9 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 126–194 | 68 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 194–199 | 5 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-12 | 199–239 | 40 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 239–265 | 26 | Áncash |
| PE-12A | 265–476 | 211 | Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín |
| SM-111 | 476–498 | 22 | San Martín |
| local roads | 498–501 | 3 | San Martín |
- Mile 30 of this route: Lambayeque → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 197 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 231 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 363 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 367 of this route: La Libertad → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 460 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Tocache
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Úcupe (mile 25), Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 52), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 124), Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 126), Cañón del Pato (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 232), Cañón del Pato (mile 257)
- Museums and history: La Otra Banda (mile 25), Úcupe (mile 25), Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 52), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 124), Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 126)
La Otra Banda
Near the hamlet of La Otra Banda, south of Zaña in Lambayeque, archaeologists from Chicago's Field Museum uncovered a 4,000-year-old temple and theater in June 2024.
Úcupe
Úcupe, 39 km from Chiclayo near the Saña River, is an archaeological zone of the Moche and Sicán cultures, including Huaca Limón and Huaca El Pueblo, where the Lord of Úcupe was found.
Farfán Archaeological Site
Farfán is an archaeological complex in Guadalupe district, Pacasmayo province, in Peru's La Libertad department.
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.
Huaca Esmeralda
Huaca Esmeralda is an adobe building of the Chimú culture in Trujillo, believed to date from the culture's first stage of development and closely linked to its capital, Chan Chan.
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
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.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
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.
More drives to Tocache
- Huánuco to Tocache
- Cerro de Pasco to Tocache
- Huaral to Tocache
- Lima to Tocache
- Barranca to Tocache
- Tarma to Tocache
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 Tocache?
About 13 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chiclayo to Tocache?
About 501 miles (806 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 Tocache?
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 Tocache?
In order: PE-1N, LI-508, LI-585, PE-1NQ, PE-12, PE-3N, PE-12A and SM-111. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chiclayo and Tocache?
Closest to the road: Farfán Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 52, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Trujillo (basilica, mile 126, 0.4 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 257, 0.2 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.