The Wayro route from Jaén to Caraz is 489 miles (787 km), about 11 h 50 min of driving without stops.
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 | 489 mi (787 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-04C → PE-04B → PE-1NJ → PE-1N → LI-508 → LI-585 → PE-1NQ → PE-12 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, Amazonas, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Jaén to Caraz drive plays out
PE-1N (162 mi) and PE-04C (74 mi) carry about 48% of the 489 miles. It runs through 6 regions: Cajamarca, Amazonas, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Jaén to Caraz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Cajamarca, Amazonas |
| PE-04C | 12–86 | 74 | Amazonas, Cajamarca, Piura |
| PE-04B | 86–124 | 38 | Piura, Lambayeque |
| PE-1NJ | 124–178 | 54 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 178–180 | 2 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 180–184 | 4 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 184–186 | 2 | Lambayeque |
| local roads | 186–189 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 189–221 | 32 | Lambayeque, La Libertad |
| LI-508 | 221–231 | 10 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 231–232 | 1 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 232–239 | 7 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 239–240 | 1 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 240–247 | 7 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 247–250 | 3 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 250–301 | 51 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 301–311 | 10 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 311–379 | 68 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 379–384 | 5 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-12 | 384–424 | 40 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 424–489 | 65 | Áncash |
- Mile 9 of this route: Cajamarca → Amazonas (region line)
- Mile 13 of this route: Amazonas → Cajamarca (region line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Cajamarca → Piura (region line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Piura → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Lambayeque → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 382 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Places worth a stop between Jaén and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ingatambo (mile 61), Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 165), Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 236), Cañón del Pato (mile 441)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 417), Cañón del Pato (mile 441)
- Museums and history: Ingatambo (mile 61), Túcume (mile 165), Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 165), Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 236), Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (mile 313)
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.
Ingatambo
Ingatambo is an archaeological site in Pomahuaca District, Jaén Province, in Peru's Cajamarca Region.
Túcume
South of the La Leche River on a plain around La Raya Mountain, Túcume is a pre-Hispanic site covering over 540 acres with 26 major pyramids and mounds.
Museo de Sitio Túcume
The Museo de Sitio Túcume is a Peruvian site museum located in the department of Lambayeque.
Farfán Archaeological Site
Farfán is an archaeological complex in Guadalupe district, Pacasmayo province, in Peru's La Libertad department.
Huaca de la Luna
Built mainly by the Moche people, Huaca de la Luna is an adobe brick structure about 4 kilometers from Trujillo, near the mouth of the Moche River.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
About five kilometers south of Trujillo in Moche District, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are a Moche sanctuary made up of adobe pyramids and monuments.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
Cañón del Pato
Carved by the Santa River where the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra come closest, Cañón del Pato is a narrow river canyon in the Áncash region.
Once you reach 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
- Huaraz to Caraz
- Casma to Caraz
- Barranca to Caraz
- Huánuco to Caraz
- Huaral to Caraz
- Cerro de Pasco to Caraz
From Jaén to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jaén to Caraz?
About 11 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 489 miles.
How far is Caraz from Jaén by car?
About 489 miles (787 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 Jaén to Caraz?
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 Caraz?
In order: PE-04C, PE-04B, PE-1NJ, PE-1N, LI-508, LI-585, PE-1NQ, PE-12 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Jaén and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Ingatambo (archaeological site, mile 61, 0.4 mi from the route); Farfán Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 236, 0.2 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 441, 0.2 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.