Plan on about 11 h 52 min of driving for the 459-mile (739 km) trip from Huancayo to Caraz, before any 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.”
| Total distance | 459 mi (739 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SB → PE-3SA → JU-645 → PE-3N → PE-3NE |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Huancayo to Caraz drive plays out
PE-3N (352 mi) and PE-3SA (36 mi) carry about 85% of the 459 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huancayo to Caraz, road by road
| 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 | 88–348 | 260 | Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| PE-3NE | 348–367 | 19 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 367–459 | 92 | Áncash |
- Mile 128 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 182 of this route: Pasco → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Huánuco → Áncash (region line)
Stops between Huancayo and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tarmatambo (mile 62), Hatun Uchku (mile 203), Awkimarka (mile 206), Hualpayunca (mile 270)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 132), Huascarán National Park (mile 421)
- Museums and history: Hatunmarka (mile 37), Tarmatambo (mile 62), Hatun Uchku (mile 203), Awkimarka (mile 206), Hualpayunca (mile 270), Jecosh (mile 398), Sala de exhibición del Monumento Arqueológico de Willkawaín (mile 419)
Hatunmarka
Hatunmarka is an archaeological site in Marco District, Jauja Province, in Peru's Junín Region.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
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.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Hualpayunca
Above the village of the same name in the Obas District of Huánuco, Hualpayunca is a high-altitude archaeological site that also serves as a nesting place for condors.
Jecosh
Jecosh is an archaeological site in the Ticapampa District of Recuay Province, Peru, lying at roughly 3,649 meters above sea level.
Sala de exhibición del Monumento Arqueológico de Willkawaín
This small exhibition hall in the Independencia district of Huaraz displays ceramics recovered from the Willkawaín archaeological site.
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.
In Caraz itself
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 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 does it take to drive from Huancayo to Caraz?
About 11 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 459 miles.
How far is Caraz from Huancayo by car?
About 459 miles (739 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 Caraz?
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 Caraz?
In order: 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 Huancayo and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Tarmatambo (archaeological site, mile 62, 0.4 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 203, 0.2 mi from the route); Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 206, 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.