Plan on about 9 h 36 min of driving for the 455-mile (732 km) trip from Loja to Chota, Peru, before any stops. You cross from Ecuador into Peru at about mile 111.
Full advisory: Ecuador, Peru. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 455 mi (732 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → PE-1NL → PE-1NR → PE-1NS → PE-1NJ → LA-107 → LA-113 → LA-697 → LA-700 → PE-06A → PE-3N |
| Border crossing | about mile 111, Ecuador → Peru |
| Regions on the route | Loja, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Peru
The route crosses at about mile 111, from Loja into Piura. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Peru (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Peru | A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. |
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| The car, entering Peru | Register the car online first (SUNAT's advance registration for tourist vehicles, valid 10 days), then get the Temporary Entry Certificate (CIT) from customs at the border. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Peru (updated August 20, 2026); U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); Government of Peru (gob.pe). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Loja to Chota drive plays out
PE-1NJ (122 mi) and E35 (121 mi) carry about 53% of the 455 miles. The first 111 miles are in Ecuador; the last 344 are in Peru. It runs through 4 regions: Loja, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Loja to Chota
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Loja |
| connecting roads | 12–19 | 7 | Loja |
| E35 | 19–140 | 121 | Loja, Piura |
| PE-1NL | 140–164 | 24 | Piura |
| PE-1NR | 164–188 | 24 | Piura |
| PE-1NS | 188–192 | 4 | Piura |
| PE-1NJ | 192–314 | 122 | Piura, Lambayeque |
| LA-107 | 314–322 | 8 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 322–323 | 1 | Lambayeque |
| LA-113 | 323–326 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| LA-697 | 326–331 | 5 | Lambayeque |
| LA-700 | 331–334 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 334–336 | 2 | Lambayeque |
| PE-06A | 336–433 | 97 | Lambayeque, Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 433–453 | 20 | Cajamarca |
| local roads | 453–455 | 2 | Cajamarca |
- Mile 111 of this route: Loja → Piura (international border)
- Mile 229 of this route: Piura → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 364 of this route: Lambayeque → Cajamarca (region line)
Stops between Loja and Chota
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín botánico Reinaldo Espinosa (mile 68), Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 308), Sicán National Museum (mile 322), Cerro Pátapo ruins (mile 336)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico Reinaldo Espinosa (mile 68), Ñaupe-Racalí Forest (mile 232)
- Museums and history: Túcume (mile 308), Museo de Sitio Túcume (mile 308), Sicán National Museum (mile 322), Cerro Pátapo ruins (mile 336), Huaca Santa Rosa de Pucalá (mile 337), Pampa Grande (mile 347)
Jardín botánico Reinaldo Espinosa
Run by the National University of Loja, the Reinaldo Espinosa botanical garden covers about 7 hectares in Loja, Ecuador.
Ñaupe-Racalí Forest
The Ñaupe-Racalí Forest is an equatorial dry forest and ecological corridor along the northeastern edge of Olmos District in Lambayeque, northern Peru.
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.
Sicán National Museum
Opened in 2004 in Ferreñafe, Peru, the Sicán National Museum documents the ancient Sicán culture through its collections.
Cerro Pátapo ruins
Near present-day Chiclayo, the Cerro Pátapo ruins are the remains of a pre-Columbian city built mainly by the Wari culture, which flourished from 350 to 1000 CE.
Huaca Santa Rosa de Pucalá
In Peru's Lambayeque region, Huaca Santa Rosa de Pucalá is an archaeological site holding the remains of a pre-Inca ceremonial center.
Pampa Grande
East of Chiclayo on the south bank of the Chancay-Lambayeque River, Pampa Grande is an archaeological site in the Lambayeque Valley of northern Peru.
More drives to Chota
More drives from Loja
- Loja to Alausi
- Loja to Agua Blanca
- Loja to Latacunga
- Loja to Puerto Cayo
- Loja to Baños
- Loja to Montecristi
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Loja to Chota, Peru?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 455 miles.
What is the driving distance from Loja to Chota, Peru?
About 455 miles (732 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.
Where does the Loja to Chota drive cross the border?
At about mile 111, from Ecuador into Peru.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Loja into Peru?
No visa needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less; border officials set your length of stay. Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months after you enter; you need an entry record, such as a passport stamp, even at remote land crossings. A U.S. license works for up to 180 days; an International Driving Permit is suggested. (U.S. State Department, updated August 20, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Loja to Chota drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Loja to Chota use?
In order: E35, PE-1NL, PE-1NR, PE-1NS, PE-1NJ, LA-107, LA-113, LA-697, LA-700, PE-06A and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Loja and Chota?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico Reinaldo Espinosa (botanical garden, mile 68, 0.6 mi from the route); Sicán National Museum (museum, mile 322, 0.9 mi from the route); Cerro Pátapo ruins (archaeological site, mile 336, 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.