By road, Juanjuí and La Merced are about 474 miles (763 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 23 min of driving.
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 by road | 474 mi (763 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → PE-18A → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Juanjuí to La Merced is like
PE-5N (203 mi) and PE-3N (118 mi) carry about 68% of the 474 miles. It runs through 4 regions: San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Juanjuí to La Merced, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 1–204 | 203 | San Martín, Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 204–291 | 87 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 291–409 | 118 | Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 409–436 | 27 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 436–474 | 38 | Junín |
- Mile 131 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 325 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 379 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Juanjuí and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín botánico de Tingo María (mile 215), Shillacoto (mile 290), Awkimarka (mile 301), Hatun Uchku (mile 304), Markapukyu (mile 335), Cachipuquio (mile 414)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico de Tingo María (mile 215), Cueva de las Lechuzas (mile 216), Tingo María National Park (mile 220), Junín National Reserve (mile 375), Cachipuquio (mile 414)
- Museums and history: Shillacoto (mile 290), Awkimarka (mile 301), Hatun Uchku (mile 304), Markapukyu (mile 335)
Jardín botánico de Tingo María
Run by the National Agrarian University of the Jungle, the Jardín botánico de Tingo María covers 5 hectares in the city of Tingo María, Peru.
Cueva de las Lechuzas
Cueva de las Lechuzas is a cave located at an altitude of about 673 meters above sea level.
Tingo María National Park
Established in 1965 in Peru's Huánuco region, Tingo María National Park protects montane forest and the Cueva de las Lechuzas, a cave where oilbirds nest.
Shillacoto
Shillacoto is an archaeological site in the Huánuco district of Peru's Huánuco Region, excavated between 1967 and 1969 under the direction of Chiaki Kano.
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Markapukyu
Markapukyu is an archaeological site in Yarusyacán District, Pasco Province, in Peru's Pasco Region, at an elevation of 3,787 meters.
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.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Casma to La Merced
From Juanjuí to other places in Peru
- Juanjuí to Churin
- Juanjuí to Jauja
- Juanjuí to Oxapampa
- Juanjuí to Satipo
- Juanjuí to Huanchaco
- Juanjuí to Celendín
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Juanjuí to La Merced?
About 12 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 474 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juanjuí to La Merced?
About 474 miles (763 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 Juanjuí to La Merced?
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 Juanjuí to La Merced use?
In order: PE-5N, PE-18A, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Juanjuí to La Merced?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico de Tingo María (botanical garden, mile 215, 0.2 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 304, 0.1 mi from the route); Cachipuquio (spring, mile 414, 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.