Piura to Caraz is about 437 road miles (703 km): roughly 10 h 53 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: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 437 mi (703 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LI-508 → LI-585 → PE-1NQ → PE-12 → PE-3N |
| Regions on the route | Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Piura to Caraz drive plays out
PE-1N (290 mi) and PE-3N (64 mi) carry about 81% of the 437 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Piura to Caraz
| 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 | 136–168 | 32 | Lambayeque, La Libertad |
| LI-508 | 168–178 | 10 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 178–180 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 180–186 | 6 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 186–188 | 2 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 188–194 | 6 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 194–198 | 4 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 198–249 | 51 | La Libertad |
| local roads | 249–258 | 9 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 258–327 | 69 | La Libertad |
| PE-1NQ | 327–331 | 4 | La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-12 | 331–372 | 41 | Áncash, La Libertad |
| PE-3N | 372–436 | 64 | Áncash |
| local roads | 436–437 | 1 | Áncash |
- Mile 71 of this route: Piura → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Lambayeque → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 329 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
- Mile 367 of this route: Áncash → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 370 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Stops between Piura and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Brüning Museum (mile 126), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 133), Úcupe (mile 157), Huaca Takaynamo (mile 254), Cañón del Pato (mile 388)
- Nature and outdoors: Calipuy National Reserve (mile 367), Cañón del Pato (mile 388)
- Museums and history: Brüning Museum (mile 126), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 133), Úcupe (mile 157), Huaca Takaynamo (mile 254), Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (mile 260)
Brüning Museum
Two blocks from Lambayeque's main square, the Brüning Museum opened in 1966 and grew from the collections of German researcher Hans Heinrich Brüning.
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.
Huaca Takaynamo
An archaeological site in Peru, Huaca Takaynamo was built during the Early Chimú period.
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.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
About five kilometers south of Trujillo in Moche District, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are a Moche sanctuary made up of adobe pyramids and monuments.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
Cañón del Pato
Carved by the Santa River where the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra come closest, Cañón del Pato is a narrow river canyon in the Áncash region.
In Caraz itself
Tumshukayko
Near Caraz in Ancash's Huaylas Province, Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archaeological site discovered only recently and still under research.
Caraz Museum
The Caraz Museum, officially the Museo Municipal Hernán Osorio Herrera, is a municipal museum in Caraz district, Huaylas Province, in Peru's Ancash region.
More drives to Caraz
- Huaraz to Caraz
- Casma to Caraz
- Barranca to Caraz
- Huánuco to Caraz
- Huaral to Caraz
- Cerro de Pasco to Caraz
From Piura to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Piura to Caraz?
About 10 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 437 miles.
How far is Caraz from Piura by car?
About 437 miles (703 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 Caraz?
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 Piura to Caraz use?
In order: PE-1N, LI-508, LI-585, PE-1NQ, PE-12 and PE-3N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Piura to Caraz?
Closest to the road: Brüning Museum (archaeological museum, mile 126, 0.2 mi from the route); Huaca Takaynamo (archaeological site, mile 254, 0.2 mi from the route); Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 388, 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.