By road, Huancayo and Huanchaco are about 554 miles (892 km) apart, or roughly 14 h 42 min of driving.
- 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 554 mi (892 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 14 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SB → PE-3SA → JU-645 → PE-3N → PA-100 → PE-18 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Huancayo to Huanchaco: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (237 mi) and PE-18 (111 mi) carry about 63% of the 554 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Junín, Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Huancayo to Huanchaco: 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 | 291–452 | 161 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 452–476 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 476–552 | 76 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 552–554 | 2 | La Libertad |
- Mile 128 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)
- Mile 474 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Tarmatambo (mile 62)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 132)
- Museums and history: Hatun Xauxa (mile 29), Tarmatambo (mile 62), Caral (mile 302), Aspero (mile 312), Sechin Alto (mile 426), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 459), Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez (mile 544)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sechin Alto
Dating to the Early Formative period, Sechin Alto is a massive architectural complex in Casma Province, Ancash, on the left bank of the Sechín River east of the town of Sechín.
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.
Huaca de la Luna
Built mainly by the Moche people, Huaca de la Luna is an adobe brick structure about 4 kilometers from Trujillo, near the mouth of the Moche River.
Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez
Painter Gerardo Chávez created the Museo de Arte Moderno Gerardo Chávez in Trujillo, La Libertad, in 2006.
Once you reach Huanchaco
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
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
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 Huanchaco?
About 14 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
How far is Huanchaco from Huancayo by car?
About 554 miles (892 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 Huanchaco?
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 Huanchaco use?
In order: PE-3SB, PE-3SA, JU-645, PE-3N, PA-100, 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 Huancayo to Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Hatun Xauxa (archaeological site, mile 29, 0.2 mi from the route); Tarmatambo (archaeological site, mile 62, 0.4 mi from the route); Huaca de la Luna (step pyramid, mile 543, 2 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.