The Wayro route from Huancavelica to Caraz is 546 miles (879 km), about 14 h 15 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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 | 546 mi (879 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 14 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-26 → PE-3S → PE-3SB → PE-3SA → JU-645 → PE-3N → PE-3NE |
| Regions on the route | Huancavelica, Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Huancavelica to Caraz: the shape of the trip
PE-3N (353 mi) and PE-26 (45 mi) carry about 73% of the 546 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Huancavelica, Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huancavelica to Caraz, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Huancavelica |
| PE-26 | 1–46 | 45 | Huancavelica |
| PE-3S | 46–80 | 34 | Huancavelica, Junín |
| connecting roads | 80–83 | 3 | Junín |
| PE-3SB | 83–116 | 33 | Junín |
| PE-3SA | 116–152 | 36 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 152–157 | 5 | Junín |
| local roads | 157–162 | 5 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 162–175 | 13 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 175–436 | 261 | Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| PE-3NE | 436–454 | 18 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 454–546 | 92 | Áncash |
- Mile 70 of this route: Huancavelica → Junín (region line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Pasco → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 409 of this route: Huánuco → Áncash (region line)
Stops between Huancavelica and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Iskuqucha (mile 46), Inka Mach'ay (mile 65), Auquilohuagra (mile 357)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 219), Huascarán National Park (mile 509)
- Museums and history: Iskuqucha (mile 46), Inka Mach'ay (mile 65), Tunanmarca (mile 126), Guellayhuasin (mile 267), Auquilohuagra (mile 357), Sahuay (mile 374), Hatun Machay (mile 459)
Iskuqucha
Iskuqucha is an archaeological site in Peru's Junín Region, in the La Oroya District of Yauli Province.
Inka Mach'ay
Inka Mach'ay is an archaeological site in Peru's Huancavelica Region, in the Ñahuimpuquio District of Tayacaja Province.
Tunanmarca
Tunanmarca, also called Siquillapucara, is an archaeological site in the Tunan Marca District of Jauja Province, in Peru's Junín Region.
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.
Guellayhuasin
Guellayhuasin is an archaeological site northwest of the village of Pallanchacra in Peru's Pasco region, at an elevation of 3,167 meters.
Auquilohuagra
Auquilohuagra is an archaeological site in Peru's Huánuco Region, in the Obas District of Yarowilca Province.
Sahuay
Sahuay, also spelled Saway, is an archaeological zone in Peru listed among the sites along this route.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
Huascarán National Park
Protecting most of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, Huascarán National Park covers about 840,000 acres of the central Andes and is managed by Peru's SERNANP.
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 Huancavelica to other places in Peru
- Huancavelica to Jauja
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Huancavelica to Oxapampa
- Huancavelica to Satipo
- Huancavelica to Puerto Ocopa
- Huancavelica to Churin
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huancavelica to Caraz?
About 14 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huancavelica to Caraz?
About 546 miles (879 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 Huancavelica to Caraz drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Peru: Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huancavelica to Caraz?
In order: PE-26, PE-3S, PE-3SB, PE-3SA, JU-645, PE-3N and PE-3NE. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huancavelica and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Iskuqucha (archaeological site, mile 46, 0.2 mi from the route); Inka Mach'ay (archaeological site, mile 65, 0.5 mi from the route); Auquilohuagra (archaeological site, mile 357, 0.8 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.