The Wayro route from Chimbote to Tarma is 398 miles (641 km), about 10 h 15 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.”
| Total distance | 398 mi (641 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NE → PE-18 → PA-100 → PE-3N → JU-645 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Chimbote to Tarma drive plays out
PE-1N (168 mi) and PE-1NE (64 mi) carry about 58% of the 398 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chimbote to Tarma
| 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 | 320–377 | 57 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-645 | 377–388 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 388–390 | 2 | Junín |
| local roads | 390–398 | 8 | Junín |
- Mile 133 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)
Places worth a stop between Chimbote and Tarma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaura Museum (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Tuquillo (mile 82), Junín National Reserve (mile 333), Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 368)
- Museums and history: La Cantina (mile 43), Puerto Huarmey (mile 89), Caral (mile 162), Huaura Museum (mile 173)
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.
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.
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.
Puerto Huarmey
Puerto Huarmey is an archaeological site of an Inca administrative center, lying in marshy ground next to the Peruvian town of Puerto Huarmey.
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.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
In Tarma itself
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
More drives to Tarma
- Cerro de Pasco to Tarma
- Lima to Tarma
- Huánuco to Tarma
- Huaral to Tarma
- Barranca to Tarma
- Pucallpa to Tarma
From Chimbote to other places in Peru
- Chimbote to Huaral
- Chimbote to Huánuco
- Chimbote to Aguaytía
- Chimbote to Oxapampa
- Chimbote to La Merced
- Chimbote to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chimbote to Tarma?
About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
How far is Tarma from Chimbote by car?
About 398 miles (641 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 Tarma 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 Tarma use?
In order: PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1NE, PE-18, PA-100, PE-3N and JU-645. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chimbote and Tarma?
Closest to the road: El Castillo de Huarmey (mausoleum, mile 87, 1 mi from the route); Puerto Huarmey (archaeological site, mile 89, 1 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 173, 0.3 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.