Plan on about 12 h 22 min of driving for the 464-mile (747 km) trip from Huancayo to Chimbote, 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 safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 464 mi (747 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 22 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, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Huancayo to Chimbote is like
PE-1N (172 mi) and PE-18 (111 mi) carry about 61% of the 464 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Pasco, Lima, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Huancayo to Chimbote: the road sequence
| 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 | 291–463 | 172 | Lima, Áncash |
| local roads | 463–464 | 1 | Áncash |
- Mile 129 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
Places worth a stop between Huancayo and Chimbote
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Catedral de Tarma (mile 66), Paramonga (mile 326)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 132), Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 304), Tuquillo (mile 383)
- Museums and history: Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Catedral de Tarma (mile 66), Caral (mile 302), Paramonga (mile 326)
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.
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.
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.
Paramonga
Paramonga was a city built at the edge of the Chimor kingdom during the Late Intermediate Period. The archaeological site sits on the Fortaleza River near Pativilca, north of Lima.
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.
Tuquillo
Along the Panamericana Norte in Huarmey Province, Áncash, the Tuquillo beach circuit runs on the Pacific from Puerto Culebras to the resort of Tuquillo, roughly between km 310 and 296.
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.
Arriving in Chimbote
Huaca San Pedro
Huaca San Pedro is an archaeological site within the city of Chimbote, Ancash, the only huaca inside the city, though today it appears quite worn.
More drives to Chimbote
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 Chimbote?
About 12 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
How far is Chimbote from Huancayo by car?
About 464 miles (747 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 Chimbote?
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.
What roads does the drive from Huancayo to Chimbote use?
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 Chimbote?
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); Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 326, 0.1 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.