Chincha Alta to Huanchaco is about 479 road miles (771 km): roughly 12 h 7 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 479 mi (771 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1S → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Chincha Alta to Huanchaco: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (319 mi) and PE-1S (126 mi) carry about 93% of the 479 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Ica, Lima, Lima Province, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chincha Alta to Huanchaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Ica |
| PE-1S | 1–127 | 126 | Ica, Lima, Lima Province |
| PE-1N | 127–213 | 86 | Lima Province, Lima |
| LM-101 | 213–220 | 7 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 220–377 | 157 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 377–401 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 401–477 | 76 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 477–479 | 2 | La Libertad |
- Mile 12 of this route: Ica → Lima (region line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Lima → Lima Province (region line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 399 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pachacamac site Museum (mile 103), Church of Our Lady of Patronage, Lima (mile 125), Museo Arqueológico Josefina Ramos de Cox (mile 126)
- Nature and outdoors: Lachay National Reserve (mile 187)
- Museums and history: Pachacamac site Museum (mile 103), Museo Arqueológico Josefina Ramos de Cox (mile 126), Caral (mile 227), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 384), Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (mile 469)
Pachacamac site Museum
Inside the Pachacamac archaeological sanctuary, this Ministry of Culture site museum holds more than 6,500 registered pieces of ceramics, wood, metal and textiles, about 290 on display, including the Pachacamac Idol.
Church of Our Lady of Patronage, Lima
The Church of Our Lady of Patronage is a Catholic church in Lima's traditional Rímac district, part of the city's historic center.
Museo Arqueológico Josefina Ramos de Cox
Founded in 1971 by Josefina Ramos de Cox, this university archaeology museum on Plaza Francia in Lima's historic center belongs to the Riva-Agüero Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
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.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto
Facing the Plaza de Armas of Nuevo Chimbote, this cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Pedro Apóstol) covers about 2,000 square meters and holds 1,600 people.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
About five kilometers south of Trujillo in Moche District, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are a Moche sanctuary made up of adobe pyramids and monuments.
In Huanchaco itself
Chan Chan
Five kilometers west of Trujillo, Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimor kingdom and is now an archaeological site in the La Libertad region.
Huaca del Dragón
Near Chan Chan in Trujillo, Huaca del Dragón, also called Huaca del Arco Iris, is an archaeological site that served as a religious, administrative and ceremonial center.
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.
More drives to Huanchaco
- Chimbote to Huanchaco
- Casma to Huanchaco
- Barranca to Huanchaco
- Huaral to Huanchaco
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
From Chincha Alta to other places in Peru
- Chincha Alta to Huaral
- Chincha Alta to Jauja
- Chincha Alta to Barranca
- Chincha Alta to Churin
- Chincha Alta to Tarma
- Chincha Alta to Cerro de Pasco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chincha Alta to Huanchaco?
About 12 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 479 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chincha Alta to Huanchaco?
About 479 miles (771 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 Chincha Alta to Huanchaco?
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 Chincha Alta to Huanchaco use?
In order: PE-1S, PE-1N, LM-101 and PE-1NQ. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chincha Alta and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Pachacamac site Museum (museum, mile 103, 0.6 mi from the route); Church of Our Lady of Patronage, Lima (convent, mile 125, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico Josefina Ramos de Cox (archaeological museum, mile 126, 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.