The Wayro route from Chota to Caraz is 413 miles (664 km), about 10 h 13 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 by road | 413 mi (664 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → CA-1066 → PE-3NB → CA-1162 → PE-08A → LI-571 → LI-585 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → PE-12 |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Chota to Caraz
PE-1N (120 mi) and PE-08A (94 mi) carry about 52% of the 413 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chota and Caraz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 1–19 | 18 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 19–22 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1066 | 22–25 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3NB | 26–39 | 13 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 39–42 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1162 | 42–52 | 10 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 52–62 | 10 | Cajamarca |
| PE-08A | 62–156 | 94 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 156–160 | 4 | Cajamarca, La Libertad |
| LI-571 | 160–165 | 5 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 165–170 | 5 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 170–173 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 173–225 | 52 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 225–235 | 10 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 235–303 | 68 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 303–308 | 5 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-12 | 308–348 | 40 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 348–413 | 65 | Áncash |
- Mile 157 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chota and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 93), Kuntur Wasi (mile 96), Historic Centre of Trujillo (mile 233), Cañón del Pato (mile 365)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 343), Cañón del Pato (mile 365)
- Museums and history: Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 93), Kuntur Wasi (mile 96), Historic Centre of Trujillo (mile 233)
Museo Kuntur Wasi
In San Pablo district of Cajamarca, the Museo Kuntur Wasi is a site museum showing artifacts recovered by archaeologists at the Kuntur Wasi ruins.
Kuntur Wasi
In the Andean highlands, Kuntur Wasi holds the ruins of a religious center with complex architecture and stone sculptures, thought to be linked to the Chavín culture.
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.
Historic Centre of Trujillo
Ringed by Avenida España, laid over the old city walls, the Historic Centre of Trujillo is the historic core of the city, also known as the Cercado de Trujillo.
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.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
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.
Arriving in Caraz
Tumshukayko
Near Caraz in Ancash's Huaylas Province, Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archaeological site discovered only recently and still under research.
Caraz Museum
The Caraz Museum, officially the Museo Municipal Hernán Osorio Herrera, is a municipal museum in Caraz district, Huaylas Province, in Peru's Ancash region.
More drives to Caraz
- Huaraz to Caraz
- Casma to Caraz
- Barranca to Caraz
- Huánuco to Caraz
- Huaral to Caraz
- Cerro de Pasco to Caraz
From Chota to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chota to Caraz?
About 10 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
How far is Caraz from Chota by car?
About 413 miles (664 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 Chota to Caraz?
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 Chota to Caraz use?
In order: PE-3N, CA-1066, PE-3NB, CA-1162, PE-08A, LI-571, LI-585, PE-1N, PE-1NQ and PE-12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chota and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Museo Kuntur Wasi (museum, mile 93, 0.2 mi from the route); Historic Centre of Trujillo (historic center, mile 233, 0.2 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 365, 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.