Huanchaco to La Merced is about 523 road miles (841 km): roughly 13 h 22 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: 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 | 523 mi (841 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LM-101 → PE-1NE → PE-18 → PA-100 → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | La Libertad, Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Huanchaco to La Merced drive plays out
PE-1N (231 mi) and PE-1NE (65 mi) carry about 57% of the 523 miles. It runs through 5 regions: La Libertad, Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Huanchaco to La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 2–78 | 76 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 78–102 | 24 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| connecting roads | 102–103 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 103–258 | 155 | Áncash, Lima |
| connecting roads | 258–259 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 259–263 | 4 | Lima |
| PE-1NE | 263–328 | 65 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 328–374 | 46 | Lima, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 374–409 | 35 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 409–458 | 49 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 458–483 | 25 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 483–523 | 40 | Junín |
- Mile 81 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Lima → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 427 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Stops between Huanchaco and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (mile 234), Huaura Museum (mile 263), Acaray (mile 267)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 423)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 10), Huacas de Moche Museum (mile 11), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 95), Cerro Sechín (mile 128), Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (mile 234), Huaura Museum (mile 263), Acaray (mile 267)
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
Huacas de Moche Museum
Opened in June 2010 in La Libertad, the Huacas de Moche Museum was later renamed Museo Santiago Uceda Castillo in honor of its late director.
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.
Cerro Sechín
Cerro Sechín is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Áncash Region, dating to around 1600 BC. Peruvian archaeologists Julio C. Tello and Toribio Mejía Xesspe found it in July 1937.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Huanchaco to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huanchaco to La Merced?
About 13 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 523 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huanchaco to La Merced?
About 523 miles (841 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 Huanchaco to La Merced drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huanchaco to La Merced?
In order: PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LM-101, PE-1NE, PE-18, PA-100, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huanchaco and La Merced?
Closest to the road: Museo Bolivariano de Pativilca (museum, mile 234, 0.2 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 263, 0.4 mi from the route); Acaray (archaeological site, mile 267, 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.