Pucallpa to Yurimaguas is about 503 road miles (809 km): roughly 12 h 47 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 safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 503 mi (809 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-18C → PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-5NB |
| Regions on the route | Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Pucallpa–Yurimaguas drive in a few lines
PE-5N (298 mi) and PE-18C (116 mi) carry about 82% of the 503 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín, Loreto. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pucallpa to Yurimaguas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Ucayali |
| PE-18C | 1–117 | 116 | Ucayali |
| PE-5N | 117–353 | 236 | Ucayali, Huánuco, San Martín |
| local roads | 353–359 | 6 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 359–364 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 364–426 | 62 | San Martín |
| PE-5NB | 426–501 | 75 | San Martín, Loreto |
| local roads | 501–503 | 2 | Loreto |
- Mile 130 of this route: Ucayali → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 222 of this route: Huánuco → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 488 of this route: San Martín → Loreto (region line)
Places worth a stop between Pucallpa and Yurimaguas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia (mile 113), Boquerón de Padre Abad (mile 113), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 432)
- Nature and outdoors: Boquerón de Padre Abad (mile 113), Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 418), Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 432)
- Museums and history: Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 427)
Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia
Velo de la Novia Regional Conservation Area is a protected natural area in Padre Abad Province, in Peru's Ucayali region.
Boquerón de Padre Abad
Boquerón de Padre Abad is a 3 km canyon in Peru's Ucayali department where the Yuracyacu River changes its name to the Aguaytía River.
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Catarata de Pucayaquillo is a waterfall in the Shapaja District of San Martín Province, in Peru's San Martín region.
Petroglifos de Polish
The Polish Petroglyphs (Petroglifos de Polish) are rock carvings located near the city of Tarapoto in Peru's San Martín region.
Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin
Run by the National University of San Martín in Tarapoto, this regional museum holds ethnographic and archaeological collections from the Peruvian Upper Amazon, including the 450-year-old Shimbillo-Chazuta mummy.
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
About 14 kilometers from Tarapoto along the road toward Yurimaguas, Catarata de Ahuashiyacu is a series of three waterfalls in Peru's San Martín region.
Once you reach Yurimaguas
Catedral de Yurimaguas
Also known as the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Snows, Yurimaguas Cathedral is a neo-Gothic Catholic church built between 1928 and 1931 in Loreto.
More drives to Yurimaguas
From Pucallpa to other places in Peru
- Pucallpa to Tarapoto
- Pucallpa to Huánuco
- Pucallpa to Cerro de Pasco
- Pucallpa to Churin
- Pucallpa to Huaral
- Pucallpa to Barranca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pucallpa to Yurimaguas?
About 12 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
How far is Yurimaguas from Pucallpa by car?
About 503 miles (809 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 Pucallpa to Yurimaguas 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 Pucallpa to Yurimaguas use?
In order: PE-18C, PE-5N, SM-839 and PE-5NB. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pucallpa and Yurimaguas?
Closest to the road: Boquerón de Padre Abad (canyon, mile 113, 0.1 mi from the route); Área de conservación regional Velo de la Novia (nature area, mile 113, 0.3 mi from the route); Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (waterfall, mile 432, 0.3 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.