Jauja to Huanchaco is about 524 road miles (843 km): roughly 13 h 60 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 524 mi (843 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3SA → JU-645 → PE-3N → PA-100 → PE-18 → PE-1N → PE-1NQ |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Jauja to Huanchaco
PE-1N (236 mi) and PE-18 (111 mi) carry about 66% of the 524 miles. It runs through 5 regions: Junín, Pasco, Lima, Áncash, La Libertad. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jauja to Huanchaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Junín |
| PE-3SA | 1–34 | 33 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 34–39 | 5 | Junín |
| local roads | 39–45 | 6 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 45–57 | 12 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 57–115 | 58 | Junín, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 115–150 | 35 | Pasco |
| PE-18 | 150–261 | 111 | Pasco, Lima |
| PE-1N | 261–422 | 161 | Lima, Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 422–446 | 24 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 446–521 | 75 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 521–524 | 3 | La Libertad |
- Mile 98 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Pasco → Lima (region line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Lima → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Huanchaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paramonga (mile 296)
- Nature and outdoors: Junín National Reserve (mile 102), Albúfera de Medio Mundo (mile 273)
- Museums and history: Tunanmarca (mile 9), Vichama (mile 266), Paramonga (mile 296), Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 429)
Tunanmarca
Tunanmarca, also called Siquillapucara, is an archaeological site in the Tunan Marca District of Jauja Province, in Peru's Junín Region.
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Vichama
Vichama is an archaeological site on the central Peruvian coast, on the right bank of the Huaura River in Végueta district, Huaura province, close to the shoreline.
Albúfera de Medio Mundo
Protected since 2007 as a regional conservation area, Albufera de Medio Mundo is a brackish coastal lagoon in Végueta district, near kilometer 175 of the Panamericana Norte.
Paramonga
Paramonga was a city built at the edge of the Chimor kingdom during the Late Intermediate Period. The archaeological site sits on the Fortaleza River near Pativilca, north of Lima.
Chanquillo
Chanquillo (Chankillo) is an ancient complex in the coastal desert of Áncash, with a hilltop fort, the Thirteen Towers solar observatory, and residential and gathering areas.
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.
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.
Once you reach Huanchaco
Chan Chan
Five kilometers west of Trujillo, Chan Chan was the capital of the pre-Columbian Chimor kingdom and is now an archaeological site in the La Libertad region.
Huaca del Dragón
Near Chan Chan in Trujillo, Huaca del Dragón, also called Huaca del Arco Iris, is an archaeological site that served as a religious, administrative and ceremonial center.
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.
More drives to Huanchaco
- Chimbote to Huanchaco
- Casma to Huanchaco
- Barranca to Huanchaco
- Huaral to Huanchaco
- Churin to Huanchaco
- Lima to Huanchaco
From Jauja to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jauja to Huanchaco?
About 13 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
What is the driving distance from Jauja to Huanchaco?
About 524 miles (843 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 Jauja to Huanchaco drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Jauja to Huanchaco?
In order: PE-3SA, JU-645, PE-3N, PA-100, PE-18, PE-1N and PE-1NQ. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Jauja and Huanchaco?
Closest to the road: Paramonga (archaeological site, mile 296, 0.2 mi from the route); Chanquillo (astronomical observatory, mile 389, 2 mi from the route); Huaca de la Luna (step pyramid, mile 513, 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.