Plan on about 10 h 34 min of driving for the 442-mile (711 km) trip from Huaraz to Chota, before any 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.”
| Total distance | 442 mi (711 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-14A → PE-1N → PE-1NQ → LI-585 → LI-571 → PE-08 → PE-08A → PE-3N → CA-1162 → PE-3NB → CA-1066 |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Huaraz–Chota drive in a few lines
PE-1N (149 mi) and PE-14A (87 mi) carry about 53% of the 442 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Áncash, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huaraz and Chota
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Áncash |
| PE-14A | 2–89 | 87 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 89–115 | 26 | Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 115–139 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 139–207 | 68 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 207–209 | 2 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 209–216 | 7 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 216–271 | 55 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 271–277 | 6 | La Libertad |
| LI-571 | 277–282 | 5 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 282–286 | 4 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| PE-08 | 286–334 | 48 | Cajamarca |
| PE-08A | 334–380 | 46 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 380–389 | 9 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1162 | 389–400 | 11 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 400–403 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3NB | 403–416 | 13 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1066 | 416–419 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 419–422 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 422–441 | 19 | Cajamarca |
| local roads | 441–442 | 1 | Cajamarca |
- Mile 137 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 285 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huaraz and Chota
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 209), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 209), Kuntur Wasi (mile 349), Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 349)
- Museums and history: Mojeque (mile 86), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 122), Cathedral of Trujillo (mile 209), Huaca Esmeralda (mile 209), Kuntur Wasi (mile 349), Museo Kuntur Wasi (mile 349)
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.
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.
Ochiputur hillock
Ochiputur hillock (Loma Ochiputur) is a coastal hill in the Salaverry district of Trujillo province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
Huaca del Sol
Near the volcanic peak of Cerro Blanco in the Moche Valley outside Trujillo, the Huaca del Sol is an adobe brick pyramid built by the Moche civilization.
Cathedral of Trujillo
Facing the Plaza de Armas, Trujillo Cathedral is the city's main church, built over 19 years from 1647 to 1666.
Huaca Esmeralda
Huaca Esmeralda is an adobe building of the Chimú culture in Trujillo, believed to date from the culture's first stage of development and closely linked to its capital, Chan Chan.
Swamps of Huanchaco
Also called the Wetlands of Huanchaco, this reserve at Huanchaco Beach, about 14 km northwest of Trujillo, supplied the reeds that the Moche used to build caballitos de totora fishing boats.
Kuntur Wasi
In the Andean highlands, Kuntur Wasi holds the ruins of a religious center with complex architecture and stone sculptures, thought to be linked to the Chavín culture.
Museo Kuntur Wasi
In San Pablo district of Cajamarca, the Museo Kuntur Wasi is a site museum showing artifacts recovered by archaeologists at the Kuntur Wasi ruins.
More drives to Chota
From Huaraz to other places in Peru
- Huaraz to Barranca
- Huaraz to Huaral
- Huaraz to Huanchaco
- Huaraz to Churin
- Huaraz to Cerro de Pasco
- Huaraz to Malabrigo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huaraz to Chota?
About 10 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 442 miles.
How far is Chota from Huaraz by car?
About 442 miles (711 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 Huaraz to Chota?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huaraz to Chota?
In order: PE-14A, PE-1N, PE-1NQ, LI-585, LI-571, PE-08, PE-08A, PE-3N, CA-1162, PE-3NB and CA-1066. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huaraz to Chota?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Trujillo (basilica, mile 209, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Kuntur Wasi (museum, mile 349, 0.2 mi from the route); Kuntur Wasi (archaeological site, mile 349, 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.