Plan on about 5 h 33 min of driving for the 249-mile (401 km) trip from Huaral to Caraz, before any stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Total distance | 249 mi (401 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | LM-667 → PE-18 → PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-16 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Lima, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Huaral to Caraz
PE-3N (92 mi) and PE-16 (76 mi) carry about 67% of the 249 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Lima, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huaral and Caraz
| 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 | 52–80 | 28 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-16 | 81–157 | 76 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-3N | 157–249 | 92 | Áncash |
- Mile 104 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
What to see on the way from Huaral to Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bandurria (mile 40), Kanapun (mile 207)
- Nature and outdoors: Lachay National Reserve (mile 20), Albufera El Paraíso (mile 39), Huascarán National Park (mile 212), Chancos Hot Springs (mile 222)
- Museums and history: Bandurria (mile 40), Caral (mile 60), Hatun Machay (mile 162), Kanapun (mile 207), Huancajirca (mile 208)
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.
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.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
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.
Huancajirca
Near Huaraz in the Áncash region, Huancajirca (Huanca Jirca) is an archaeological site with evidence of occupation in the Early Horizon and Middle Horizon periods.
Huascarán National Park
Protecting most of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, Huascarán National Park covers about 840,000 acres of the central Andes and is managed by Peru's SERNANP.
Chancos Hot Springs
Owned and run by the Vicos farming community, Chancos Hot Springs (Baños termales de Chancos) is a thermal mineral spring in Marcará district, about 30 km from Huaraz.
Arriving in Caraz
Tumshukayko
Near Caraz in Ancash's Huaylas Province, Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archaeological site discovered only recently and still under research.
Caraz Museum
The Caraz Museum, officially the Museo Municipal Hernán Osorio Herrera, is a municipal museum in Caraz district, Huaylas Province, in Peru's Ancash region.
More drives to Caraz
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 Caraz?
About 5 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 249 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huaral to Caraz?
About 249 miles (401 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 Caraz?
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 Huaral to Caraz use?
In order: LM-667, PE-18, PE-1N, LM-101, PE-16 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huaral and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Bandurria (archaeological site, mile 40, 0.8 mi from the route); Kanapun (archaeological site, mile 207, 0.2 mi from the route); Huancajirca (archaeological site, mile 208, 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.