The Wayro route from Chimbote to La Merced is 433 miles (697 km), about 11 h 9 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 | 433 mi (697 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NE → PE-18 → PA-100 → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Chimbote to La Merced drive plays out
PE-1N (168 mi) and PE-1NE (64 mi) carry about 54% of the 433 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chimbote and La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 1–169 | 168 | Áncash, Lima |
| LM-101 | 169–173 | 4 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 173–174 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1NE | 174–238 | 64 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 238–285 | 47 | Lima, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 285–320 | 35 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 320–368 | 48 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 368–394 | 26 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 394–432 | 38 | Junín |
| local roads | 432–433 | 1 | Junín |
- Mile 134 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Lima → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
What to see on the way from Chimbote to La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paramonga (mile 138), Huaura Museum (mile 173), Cachipuquio (mile 372)
- Nature and outdoors: Tuquillo (mile 82), Junín National Reserve (mile 333), Cachipuquio (mile 372)
- Museums and history: Las Haldas (mile 55), Paramonga (mile 138), Caral (mile 162), Huaura Museum (mile 173)
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.
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.
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.
El Castillo de Huarmey
On Peru's coast in the Ancash Region north of Lima, El Castillo de Huarmey is a pyramid-like site where a royal Wari tomb holding 60 individuals was found undisturbed in 2013.
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.
Caral
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe holds the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization, 182 km north of Lima, 23 km inland and 350 meters above sea level.
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.
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Chimbote to other places in Peru
- Chimbote to Huaral
- Chimbote to Huánuco
- Chimbote to Tarma
- Chimbote to Aguaytía
- Chimbote to Oxapampa
- Chimbote to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chimbote to La Merced?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 433 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chimbote to La Merced?
About 433 miles (697 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 Chimbote to La Merced drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chimbote to La Merced use?
In order: PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1NE, PE-18, PA-100, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chimbote to La Merced?
Closest to the road: Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 138, 0.1 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 173, 0.3 mi from the route); Cachipuquio (spring, mile 372, 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.