The Wayro route from Piura to Cajamarca is 291 miles (469 km), about 6 h 34 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance by road | 291 mi (469 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → PE-08 |
| Regions on the route | Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Piura to Cajamarca
PE-1N (175 mi) and PE-08 (104 mi) carry about 96% of the 291 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Cajamarca. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Piura to Cajamarca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-1N | 0–132 | 132 | Piura, Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 132–133 | 1 | Lambayeque |
| local roads | 133–136 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 136–179 | 43 | Lambayeque, La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 179–181 | 2 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 181–186 | 5 | La Libertad |
| PE-08 | 186–290 | 104 | La Libertad, Cajamarca |
| local roads | 290–291 | 1 | Cajamarca |
- Mile 71 of this route: Piura → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Lambayeque → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 188 of this route: La Libertad → Cajamarca (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Piura and Cajamarca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 127), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 133), Úcupe (mile 157), San Jose de Moro (mile 176)
- Museums and history: Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 127), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 133), Úcupe (mile 157), La Otra Banda (mile 157), San Jose de Moro (mile 176)
Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum
Lambayeque's Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum displays most of the key artifacts archaeologist Walter Alva found at Huaca Rajada in 1987, including the Lord of Sipán and his entourage.
St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo
Chiclayo Cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Chiclayo, is a neoclassical church begun in 1869 to plans commissioned from Gustave Eiffel.
Úcupe
Úcupe, 39 km from Chiclayo near the Saña River, is an archaeological zone of the Moche and Sicán cultures, including Huaca Limón and Huaca El Pueblo, where the Lord of Úcupe was found.
La Otra Banda
Near the hamlet of La Otra Banda, south of Zaña in Lambayeque, archaeologists from Chicago's Field Museum uncovered a 4,000-year-old temple and theater in June 2024.
San Jose de Moro
San Jose de Moro is a Moche archaeological site in the Pacanga District of Chepén Province, in Peru's La Libertad region.
Arriving in Cajamarca
St. Catherine's Cathedral, Cajamarca
Known as Cajamarca Cathedral, St. Catherine's Cathedral is the main Catholic place of worship in the city of Cajamarca.
Huacaloma
Huacaloma is an archaeological site about 3.5 km southeast of Cajamarca's historic center, at around 2,800 m in Peru's northern highlands.
Layzon
Layzón (Layzon) is an archaeological site in the Cajamarca district of Peru, sitting at an altitude of about 3,200 meters.
More drives to Cajamarca
From Piura to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Piura to Cajamarca?
About 6 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 291 miles.
What is the driving distance from Piura to Cajamarca?
About 291 miles (469 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 Piura to Cajamarca?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Piura to Cajamarca?
In order: PE-1N and PE-08. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Piura to Cajamarca?
Closest to the road: Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (museum, mile 127, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (cathedral, mile 133, 0.4 mi from the route); San Jose de Moro (archaeological site, mile 176, 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.