Huánuco to Cajabamba is about 511 road miles (822 km): roughly 12 h 41 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 511 mi (822 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → PE-3NE → PE-14A → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LI-122 → LI-121 → LI-972 → LI-964 → LI-931 |
| Regions on the route | Huánuco, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Huánuco to Cajabamba
PE-3N (256 mi) and PE-14A (87 mi) carry about 67% of the 511 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Huánuco, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huánuco to Cajabamba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 1–133 | 132 | Huánuco, Áncash |
| PE-3NE | 133–151 | 18 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 151–201 | 50 | Áncash |
| connecting roads | 201–203 | 2 | Áncash |
| PE-14A | 203–290 | 87 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 290–316 | 26 | Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 316–339 | 23 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 339–368 | 29 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 368–370 | 2 | La Libertad |
| LI-122 | 370–374 | 4 | La Libertad |
| LI-121 | 374–414 | 40 | La Libertad |
| LI-972 | 414–418 | 4 | La Libertad |
| LI-964 | 418–430 | 12 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 430–432 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 432–445 | 13 | La Libertad |
| LI-931 | 445–449 | 4 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 449–510 | 61 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| local roads | 510–511 | 1 | Cajamarca |
- Mile 107 of this route: Huánuco → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 338 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 503 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Archaeological Museum of Ancash (mile 200), Kanapun (mile 201), Pallka (mile 264)
- Museums and history: Garu (mile 41), Sahuay (mile 72), Hatun Machay (mile 155), Archaeological Museum of Ancash (mile 200), Kanapun (mile 201), Pallka (mile 264), Mojeque (mile 287), Marcahuamachuco (mile 480)
Garu
Garu de Yarowilca is a pre-Inca archaeological complex in the Alto Marañón area of Peru.
Sahuay
Sahuay, also spelled Saway, is an archaeological zone in Peru listed among the sites along this route.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
Archaeological Museum of Ancash
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Huaraz, the Archaeological Museum of Ancash was created in 1935 at the suggestion of Julio C. Tello and named for Rev. Augusto Soriano Infante, who led the effort.
Kanapun
In the Independencia district of Huaraz province, Áncash, Kanapun is an archaeological site dated by archaeologist Víctor Tufinio Culquichicón to the Late Formative or Early Horizon period.
Pallka
Pallka (also spelled Pallca) is an archaeological site of a monumental Formative-period settlement in the middle Casma Valley, east of the town of Casma and south of Yaután.
Mojeque
Also called Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke, Mojeque is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Ancash, that archaeologists believe served as a temple or religious structure.
Marcahuamachuco
Pre-Inca ruins in Peru's La Libertad Region make up Marcahuamachuco, an archaeological site worth a stop for road-trippers in the area.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Caraz to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Barranca to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
From Huánuco to other places in Peru
- Huánuco to Aguaytía
- Huánuco to Tocache
- Huánuco to Juanjuí
- Huánuco to Moyobamba
- Huánuco to Yurimaguas
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huánuco to Cajabamba?
About 12 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 511 miles.
How far is Cajabamba from Huánuco by car?
About 511 miles (822 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 Huánuco to Cajabamba?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huánuco to Cajabamba use?
In order: PE-3N, PE-3NE, PE-14A, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LI-122, LI-121, LI-972, LI-964 and LI-931. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huánuco and Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Archaeological Museum of Ancash (museum, mile 200, 0.4 mi from the route); Kanapun (archaeological site, mile 201, 0.4 mi from the route); Pallka (archaeological site, mile 264, 0.7 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.