The Wayro route from Huánuco to Yurimaguas is 439 miles (706 km), about 11 h 15 min of driving without stops.
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 | 439 mi (706 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-18A → PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-5NB |
| Regions on the route | Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Huánuco to Yurimaguas drive plays out
PE-5N (267 mi) and PE-18A (84 mi) carry about 80% of the 439 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Huánuco to Yurimaguas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 1–85 | 84 | Huánuco |
| PE-5N | 85–290 | 205 | Huánuco, San Martín |
| local roads | 290–295 | 5 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 295–300 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 300–362 | 62 | San Martín |
| PE-5NB | 362–437 | 75 | San Martín, Loreto |
| local roads | 437–439 | 2 | Loreto |
- Mile 158 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 424 of this route: San Martín → Loreto (region line)
Stops between Huánuco and Yurimaguas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huanacaure (mile 71), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 368)
- Nature and outdoors: Tingo María National Park (mile 70), Cueva de las Lechuzas (mile 74), Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 354), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 368)
- Museums and history: Huanacaure (mile 71), Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 363)
Tingo María National Park
Established in 1965 in Peru's Huánuco region, Tingo María National Park protects montane forest and the Cueva de las Lechuzas, a cave where oilbirds nest.
Huanacaure
Huanacaure is an archaeological site of the Inca and earlier cultures in Chinchao District, Huánuco Province, in Peru's Huánuco region.
Cueva de las Lechuzas
Cueva de las Lechuzas is a cave located at an altitude of about 673 meters above sea level.
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Catarata de Pucayaquillo is a waterfall in the Shapaja District of San Martín Province, in Peru's San Martín region.
Petroglifos de Polish
The Polish Petroglyphs (Petroglifos de Polish) are rock carvings located near the city of Tarapoto in Peru's San Martín region.
Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin
Run by the National University of San Martín in Tarapoto, this regional museum holds ethnographic and archaeological collections from the Peruvian Upper Amazon, including the 450-year-old Shimbillo-Chazuta mummy.
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
About 14 kilometers from Tarapoto along the road toward Yurimaguas, Catarata de Ahuashiyacu is a series of three waterfalls in Peru's San Martín region.
Once you reach Yurimaguas
Catedral de Yurimaguas
Also known as the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Snows, Yurimaguas Cathedral is a neo-Gothic Catholic church built between 1928 and 1931 in Loreto.
More drives to Yurimaguas
From Huánuco to other places in Peru
- Huánuco to Aguaytía
- Huánuco to Tocache
- Huánuco to Juanjuí
- Huánuco to Moyobamba
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
- Huánuco to Churin
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huánuco to Yurimaguas?
About 11 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 439 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huánuco to Yurimaguas?
About 439 miles (706 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 Yurimaguas?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huánuco to Yurimaguas?
In order: PE-18A, PE-5N, SM-839 and PE-5NB. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huánuco and Yurimaguas?
Closest to the road: Huanacaure (archaeological site, mile 71, 0.6 mi from the route); Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (museum, mile 363, 1 mi from the route); Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (waterfall, mile 368, 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.