Huancayo to Barranca is about 319 road miles (513 km): roughly 8 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Total distance | 319 mi (513 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SB → PE-3SA → JU-645 → PE-3N → PA-100 → PE-18 → PE-1N |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Pasco, Lima |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Huancayo to Barranca
PE-18 (111 mi) and PE-3N (57 mi) carry about 53% of the 319 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Junín, Pasco, Lima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huancayo and Barranca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Junín |
| PE-3SB | 3–29 | 26 | Junín |
| PE-3SA | 29–65 | 36 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 65–69 | 4 | Junín |
| local roads | 69–75 | 6 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 75–88 | 13 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 88–145 | 57 | Junín, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 145–180 | 35 | Pasco |
| PE-18 | 180–291 | 111 | Pasco, Lima |
| PE-1N | 291–317 | 26 | Lima |
| local roads | 317–319 | 2 | Lima |
- Mile 129 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
Places worth a stop between Huancayo and Barranca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Catedral de Tarma (mile 66), Acaray (mile 288)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachipuquio (mile 98), Junín National Reserve (mile 132), Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Catedral de Tarma (mile 66), Acaray (mile 288), Huaura Museum (mile 291), Vichama (mile 296), Caral (mile 302)
Hatun Xauxa
Hatun Xauxa is a Late Horizon archaeological site woven into the town of Sausa and its surroundings, covering an estimated 167 to 221 hectares.
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Albúfera de Medio Mundo
Protected since 2007 as a regional conservation area, Albufera de Medio Mundo is a brackish coastal lagoon in Végueta district, near kilometer 175 of the Panamericana Norte.
Once you reach Barranca
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.
Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca
Half a block from the Plaza de Armas of Pativilca, this museum occupies the house where Simón Bolívar kept his headquarters in 1823, showing paintings, books and objects from his era.
More drives to Barranca
- Huaral to Barranca
- Lima to Barranca
- Huánuco to Barranca
- Pucallpa to Barranca
- Trujillo to Barranca
- Huaraz to Barranca
From Huancayo to other places in Peru
- Huancayo to Tarma
- Huancayo to Cerro de Pasco
- Huancayo to Oxapampa
- Huancayo to Huánuco
- Huancayo to Churin
- Huancayo to Huaral
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huancayo to Barranca?
About 8 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 319 miles.
How far is Barranca from Huancayo by car?
About 319 miles (513 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 Huancayo to Barranca?
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 Huancayo to Barranca?
In order: PE-3SB, PE-3SA, JU-645, PE-3N, PA-100, PE-18 and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huancayo to Barranca?
Closest to the road: Hatun Xauxa (archaeological site, mile 29, 0.2 mi from the route); Catedral de Tarma (cathedral, mile 66, 0.3 mi from the route); Acaray (archaeological site, mile 288, 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.