Plan on about 3 h 54 min of driving for the 156-mile (251 km) trip from Moyobamba to Chachapoyas, before any stops.
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 | 156 mi (251 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → PE-08C |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Amazonas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving Moyobamba to Chachapoyas: the shape of the trip
PE-5N (122 mi) and PE-08C (25 mi) carry about 94% of the 156 miles. It runs through 2 regions: San Martín, Amazonas. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Moyobamba to Chachapoyas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 2–124 | 122 | San Martín, Amazonas |
| PE-08C | 124–149 | 25 | Amazonas |
| connecting roads | 149–150 | 1 | Amazonas |
| local roads | 150–156 | 6 | Amazonas |
- Mile 67 of this route: San Martín → Amazonas (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Chachapoyas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tingorbamba (mile 140)
- Nature and outdoors: Yumbilla Falls (mile 122), Catarata Pabellón (mile 123), Gocta Cataracts (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Tingorbamba (mile 140)
Yumbilla Falls
Near the town of Cuispes in Peru's Amazonas region, Yumbilla Falls became internationally known after a 2007 survey by the Geographical Institute of Peru.
Catarata Pabellón
Named for the hill where it falls, Catarata Pabellón is a waterfall in Peru's Amazonas department with a drop of roughly 400 meters, one of the highest in Peru.
Gocta Cataracts
In Bongará Province of the Amazonas region, Gocta is a year-round waterfall with two drops that flows into the Cocahuayco River.
Tingorbamba
Also called Pueblo de los Muertos, Tingorbamba is a Chachapoya archaeological site west of the Utcubamba River near Lamud, in Luya Province, at about 2,329 meters.
Arriving in Chachapoyas
Cañón del Sonche
In Peru's Amazonas department, the Sonche Canyon (Huanca Urco) runs about 11 kilometers to the Utcubamba River, with its top at 2,620 meters above sea level and a cool temperate climate.
Chachapoyas Cathedral
Chachapoyas Cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a Catholic parish church and the seat of the Diocese of Chachapoyas.
Sala de exhibición Gilberto Tenorio Ruiz
Three rooms in this Chachapoyas museum display archaeological objects, many donated by local residents. It honors Gilberto Tenorio Ruiz and his research on local culture and folklore.
More drives to Chachapoyas
- Cajamarca to Chachapoyas
- Chota to Chachapoyas
- Tarapoto to Chachapoyas
- Juanjuí to Chachapoyas
- Chiclayo to Chachapoyas
- Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas
From Moyobamba to other places in Peru
- Moyobamba to Churin
- Moyobamba to Oxapampa
- Moyobamba to Malabrigo
- Moyobamba to Máncora
- Moyobamba to Celendín
- Moyobamba to Cajabamba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Moyobamba to Chachapoyas?
About 3 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 156 miles.
What is the driving distance from Moyobamba to Chachapoyas?
About 156 miles (251 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 Moyobamba to Chachapoyas drive?
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 Moyobamba to Chachapoyas use?
In order: PE-5N and PE-08C. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Moyobamba and Chachapoyas?
Closest to the road: Catarata Pabellón (waterfall, mile 123, 3 mi from the route); Gocta Cataracts (waterfall, mile 135, 3 mi from the route); Tingorbamba (archaeological site, mile 140, 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.