Huaraz to Yurimaguas is about 557 road miles (897 km): roughly 15 h 40 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: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Total distance | 557 mi (897 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 15 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → AN-545 → PE-12A → SM-111 → PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-5NB |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Huaraz–Yurimaguas drive in a few lines
PE-12A (193 mi) and PE-5N (168 mi) carry about 65% of the 557 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Huaraz to Yurimaguas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-3N | 0–75 | 75 | Áncash |
| connecting roads | 75–80 | 5 | Áncash |
| AN-545 | 80–88 | 8 | Áncash |
| PE-12A | 88–281 | 193 | Áncash, La Libertad, Huánuco, San Martín |
| SM-111 | 281–303 | 22 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 303–408 | 105 | San Martín |
| local roads | 408–414 | 6 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 414–418 | 4 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 418–481 | 63 | San Martín |
| PE-5NB | 481–556 | 75 | San Martín, Loreto |
| local roads | 556–557 | 1 | Loreto |
- Mile 167 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 171 of this route: La Libertad → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 543 of this route: San Martín → Loreto (region line)
What to see on the way from Huaraz to Yurimaguas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaricoto (mile 16), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 32), Caraz Museum (mile 43), Tumshukayko (mile 44), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 487)
- Nature and outdoors: Chancos Hot Springs (mile 16), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 32), Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 473), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 487)
- Museums and history: Huaricoto (mile 16), Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (mile 32), Caraz Museum (mile 43), Tumshukayko (mile 44), Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 482)
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.
Huaricoto
In Marcará district of Áncash, Huaricoto holds the remains of a ceremonial center used from the Late Archaic through the Formative period, about 2800 to 200 BC.
Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca
In Ranrahirca, in Áncash's Yungay Province, this archaeology, anthropology and natural history museum keeps a collection of the region's plants and animals.
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.
Tumshukayko
Near Caraz in Ancash's Huaylas Province, Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archaeological site discovered only recently and still under research.
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.
Arriving in 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 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 Yurimaguas?
About 15 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 557 miles.
How far is Yurimaguas from Huaraz by car?
About 557 miles (897 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 Yurimaguas?
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 Huaraz to Yurimaguas use?
In order: PE-3N, AN-545, PE-12A, SM-111, PE-5N, SM-839 and PE-5NB. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huaraz to Yurimaguas?
Closest to the road: Anthropology, Archaeology and Natural History Museum of Ranrahirca (museum, mile 32, 0.1 mi from the route); Caraz Museum (museum, mile 43, 0.2 mi from the route); Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (waterfall, mile 487, 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.