Plan on about 8 h 32 min of driving for the 327-mile (526 km) trip from Churin to Huanchaco, before any stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance by road | 327 mi (526 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-18 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Churin to Huanchaco: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (236 mi) and PE-18 (64 mi) carry about 92% of the 327 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Churin to Huanchaco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-18 | 0–64 | 64 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 64–225 | 161 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 225–249 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 249–324 | 75 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 324–327 | 3 | La Libertad |
- Mile 105 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Stops between Churin and Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaura Museum (mile 64)
- Museums and history: Huaura Museum (mile 64), Vichama (mile 69), Aspero (mile 85), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 232), Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 318)
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.
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.
Aspero
Near the mouth of the Supe River south of Supe Puerto, Aspero is a Late Preceramic site of the Caral-Supe civilization, occupied from about 3700 to 1800 BC.
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.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's 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.
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
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
- Lima to Huanchaco
- Tocache to Huanchaco
From Churin to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Churin to Huanchaco?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
What is the driving distance from Churin to Huanchaco?
About 327 miles (526 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 Churin to Huanchaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Churin to Huanchaco?
In order: PE-18, PE-1N and PE-1NQ. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Churin to Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Huaura Museum (museum, mile 64, 0.9 mi from the route); El Castillo de Huarmey (mausoleum, mile 150, 1 mi from the route); Huaca del Sol (ancient city, mile 316, 1 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.