Plan on about 10 h 47 min of driving for the 405-mile (651 km) trip from Huaral to Cajabamba, before any stops.
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 | 405 mi (651 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | LM-667 → PE-18 → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NQ → LI-122 → LI-121 → LI-972 → LI-964 → PE-3N → LI-931 |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Huaral to Cajabamba drive plays out
PE-1N (214 mi) and PE-3N (76 mi) carry about 72% of the 405 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Lima, Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Huaral to Cajabamba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Lima |
| LM-667 | 1–12 | 11 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 12–17 | 5 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 17–45 | 28 | Lima |
| LM-101 | 45–52 | 7 | Lima |
| PE-1N | 52–209 | 157 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 209–233 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 233–262 | 29 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 262–264 | 2 | La Libertad |
| LI-122 | 264–268 | 4 | La Libertad |
| LI-121 | 268–308 | 40 | La Libertad |
| LI-972 | 308–311 | 3 | La Libertad |
| LI-964 | 311–324 | 13 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 324–326 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 326–339 | 13 | La Libertad |
| LI-931 | 339–342 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 342–405 | 63 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
- Mile 89 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 232 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 396 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huaral and Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bandurria (mile 40), Huaura Museum (mile 48), Cerro Miraflores (mile 373)
- Nature and outdoors: Lachay National Reserve (mile 20), Albufera El Paraíso (mile 39)
- Museums and history: Bandurria (mile 40), Huaura Museum (mile 48), Caral (mile 60), Puerto Huarmey (mile 133), Sechin Alto (mile 183), Cerro Miraflores (mile 373)
Lachay National Reserve
Around 105 km north of Lima, in Peru's Lima region, Lachay National Reserve protects part of the lomas ecosystem.
Albufera El Paraíso
In Huaura Province, in the Lima region, Albufera El Paraíso is a saltwater lagoon where crabs, lizards, great egrets and flamingos live.
Bandurria
About 3 km south of Huacho on the Huaura River, Bandurria is an archaeological site in the Lima Region that has been dated to 4,000 BC.
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.
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.
Puerto Huarmey
Puerto Huarmey is an archaeological site of an Inca administrative center, lying in marshy ground next to the Peruvian town of Puerto Huarmey.
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.
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.
Cerro Miraflores
About 1.1 km northwest of Huamachuco, Cerro Miraflores is an archaeological site in the Huamachuco district of Sánchez Carrión province, La Libertad.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Caraz to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Barranca to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
From Huaral to other places in Peru
- Huaral to Aguaytía
- Huaral to Tocache
- Huaral to Juanjuí
- Huaral to Barranca
- Huaral to Tarma
- Huaral to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huaral to Cajabamba?
About 10 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Cajabamba from Huaral by car?
About 405 miles (651 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 Huaral to Cajabamba?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huaral to Cajabamba?
In order: LM-667, PE-18, PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1NQ, LI-122, LI-121, LI-972, LI-964, PE-3N and LI-931. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huaral and Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Bandurria (archaeological site, mile 40, 0.8 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); Cerro Miraflores (archaeological site, mile 373, 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.