Plan on about 12 h 38 min of driving for the 488-mile (786 km) trip from Chimbote to Tarapoto, before any stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance | 488 mi (786 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | AN-107 → PE-12 → PE-3N → PE-12A → SM-111 → PE-5N → SM-839 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
On the road from Chimbote to Tarapoto
PE-12A (211 mi) and PE-5N (167 mi) carry about 77% of the 488 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chimbote to Tarapoto
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| AN-107 | 1–11 | 10 | Áncash |
| PE-12 | 11–48 | 37 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 48–74 | 26 | Áncash |
| PE-12A | 74–285 | 211 | Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín |
| SM-111 | 285–308 | 23 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 308–413 | 105 | San Martín |
| local roads | 413–418 | 5 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 418–423 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 423–485 | 62 | San Martín |
| local roads | 485–488 | 3 | San Martín |
- Mile 171 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 176 of this route: La Libertad → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chimbote and Tarapoto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Pato (mile 66)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 43), Cañón del Pato (mile 66), Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 478)
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.
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Catarata de Pucayaquillo is a waterfall in the Shapaja District of San Martín Province, in Peru's San Martín region.
Arriving in 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 Chimbote to other places in Peru
- Chimbote to Huaral
- Chimbote to Huánuco
- Chimbote to Tarma
- Chimbote to Aguaytía
- Chimbote to Oxapampa
- Chimbote to La Merced
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chimbote to Tarapoto?
About 12 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
How far is Tarapoto from Chimbote by car?
About 488 miles (786 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 Tarapoto drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chimbote to Tarapoto?
In order: AN-107, PE-12, PE-3N, PE-12A, SM-111, PE-5N and SM-839. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chimbote to Tarapoto?
Closest to the road: Calipuy National Reserve (national reserve, mile 43, 7 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 66, 0.2 mi from the route); Catarata de Pucayaquillo (waterfall, mile 478, 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.