Chota to Churin is about 552 road miles (889 km): roughly 13 h 20 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Total distance | 552 mi (889 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → CA-1066 → PE-3NB → CA-1162 → PE-08A → LI-571 → LI-585 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LM-101 → PE-1NE |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Chota to Churin drive plays out
PE-1N (276 mi) and PE-08A (94 mi) carry about 67% of the 552 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chota to Churin, road by road
| 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 | 303–326 | 23 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| connecting roads | 326–327 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 327–483 | 156 | Áncash, Lima |
| connecting roads | 483–484 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 484–488 | 4 | Lima |
| PE-1NE | 488–552 | 64 | Lima |
- Mile 157 of this route: Cajamarca → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
Stops between Chota and Churin
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 93), Kuntur Wasi (mile 96), Acaray (mile 492)
- Museums and history: Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 93), Kuntur Wasi (mile 96), Chan Chan (mile 232), Huacas de Moche Museum (mile 236), La Cantina (mile 358), Puerto Huarmey (mile 403), Vichama (mile 485), Acaray (mile 492)
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.
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 Sol
Near the volcanic peak of Cerro Blanco in the Moche Valley outside Trujillo, the Huaca del Sol is an adobe brick pyramid built by the Moche civilization.
Huacas de Moche Museum
Opened in June 2010 in La Libertad, the Huacas de Moche Museum was later renamed Museo Santiago Uceda Castillo in honor of its late director.
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.
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.
Vichama
Vichama is an archaeological site on the central Peruvian coast, on the right bank of the Huaura River in Végueta district, Huaura province, close to the shoreline.
Acaray
In the Huaura River Valley, the Fortress of Acaray is an archaeological site spread over three hilltops ringed by defensive walls with parapets and bastions.
More drives to Churin
- Huánuco to Churin
- Aguaytía to Churin
- Tocache to Churin
- Pucallpa to Churin
- Juanjuí to Churin
- Tarapoto to Churin
From Chota to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chota to Churin?
About 13 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
How far is Churin from Chota by car?
About 552 miles (889 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 Chota to Churin 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 Chota to Churin use?
In order: PE-3N, CA-1066, PE-3NB, CA-1162, PE-08A, LI-571, LI-585, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LM-101 and PE-1NE. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chota to Churin?
Closest to the road: Museo Kuntur Wasi (museum, mile 93, 0.2 mi from the route); Kuntur Wasi (archaeological site, mile 96, 0.4 mi from the route); Acaray (archaeological site, mile 492, 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.