Plan on about 8 h 28 min of driving for the 255-mile (411 km) trip from Jaén 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: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 255 mi (411 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-04C → PE-3N → PE-3NC → CA-1066 → PE-3NB → CA-1162 → PE-08B → CA-1501 → CA-1511 |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, Amazonas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Jaén to Cajabamba drive plays out
PE-3N (137 mi) and PE-3NC (24 mi) carry about 63% of the 255 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cajamarca, Amazonas. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Jaén to Cajabamba: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Cajamarca, Amazonas |
| PE-04C | 12–32 | 20 | Amazonas, Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 32–69 | 37 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3NC | 70–94 | 24 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 94–118 | 24 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 118–121 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1066 | 121–124 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3NB | 124–137 | 13 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 137–140 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1162 | 140–151 | 11 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 151–178 | 27 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 178–183 | 5 | Cajamarca |
| PE-08B | 183–191 | 8 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1501 | 191–195 | 4 | Cajamarca |
| connecting roads | 195–198 | 3 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 198–203 | 5 | Cajamarca |
| CA-1511 | 203–211 | 8 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 211–255 | 44 | Cajamarca |
- Mile 9 of this route: Cajamarca → Amazonas (region line)
- Mile 13 of this route: Amazonas → Cajamarca (region line)
What to see on the way from Jaén to Cajabamba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Condorcaga (mile 90), St. Catherine's Cathedral, Cajamarca (mile 176), Huacaloma (mile 178)
- Nature and outdoors: Cutervo National Park (mile 47)
- Museums and history: Condorcaga (mile 90), St. Catherine's Cathedral, Cajamarca (mile 176), Huacaloma (mile 178), Ventanillas de Otuzco (mile 183)
Área de conservación regional Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo
The Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo regional conservation area is a protected area in Peru's Cajamarca department.
Cutervo National Park
Established in 1961, Cutervo National Park protects a stretch of the northern Peruvian Andes in the Cajamarca region.
Condorcaga
Condorcaga is an archaeological zone in the Lajas District of Chota Province, in Peru's Cajamarca region.
St. Catherine's Cathedral, Cajamarca
Known as Cajamarca Cathedral, St. Catherine's Cathedral is the main Catholic place of worship in the city of Cajamarca.
Huacaloma
Huacaloma is an archaeological site about 3.5 km southeast of Cajamarca's historic center, at around 2,800 m in Peru's northern highlands.
Ventanillas de Otuzco
About 8 km northwest of Cajamarca, in Baños del Inca district, the Ventanillas de Otuzco are a Peruvian archaeological site worth a short detour.
More drives to Cajabamba
- Trujillo to Cajabamba
- Casma to Cajabamba
- Caraz to Cajabamba
- Huaraz to Cajabamba
- Barranca to Cajabamba
- Sullana to Cajabamba
From Jaén to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jaén to Cajabamba?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 255 miles.
How far is Cajabamba from Jaén by car?
About 255 miles (411 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Jaén to Cajabamba drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Jaén to Cajabamba?
In order: PE-04C, PE-3N, PE-3NC, CA-1066, PE-3NB, CA-1162, PE-08B, CA-1501 and CA-1511. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Jaén and Cajabamba?
Closest to the road: Condorcaga (archaeological site, mile 90, 0.3 mi from the route); St. Catherine's Cathedral, Cajamarca (cathedral, mile 176, 0.7 mi from the route); Huacaloma (archaeological site, mile 178, 0.6 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.