Plan on about 11 h 22 min of driving for the 427-mile (687 km) trip from Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco, before any stops.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 427 mi (687 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-18A → PE-3N → PA-558 |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco is like
PE-5N (268 mi) and PE-18A (87 mi) carry about 83% of the 427 miles. It runs through 3 regions: San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 2–66 | 64 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 66–71 | 5 | San Martín |
| local roads | 71–76 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 76–280 | 204 | San Martín, Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 280–367 | 87 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 367–419 | 52 | Huánuco, Pasco |
| PA-558 | 419–427 | 8 | Pasco |
- Mile 207 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cerro de Pasco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Shillacoto (mile 365), Awkimarka (mile 376), Hatun Uchku (mile 380), Markapukyu (mile 410)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 11), Cueva de las Lechuzas (mile 291), Tingo María National Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Shillacoto (mile 365), Kotosh (mile 367), Awkimarka (mile 376), Hatun Uchku (mile 380), Markapukyu (mile 410)
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Catarata de Pucayaquillo is a waterfall in the Shapaja District of San Martín Province, in Peru's San Martín region.
Cueva de las Lechuzas
Cueva de las Lechuzas is a cave located at an altitude of about 673 meters above sea level.
Tingo María National Park
Established in 1965 in Peru's Huánuco region, Tingo María National Park protects montane forest and the Cueva de las Lechuzas, a cave where oilbirds nest.
Shillacoto
Shillacoto is an archaeological site in the Huánuco district of Peru's Huánuco Region, excavated between 1967 and 1969 under the direction of Chiaki Kano.
Kotosh
Near the town of Huánuco, Kotosh is an archaeological site of buildings that span six periods of continuous occupation.
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Markapukyu
Markapukyu is an archaeological site in Yarusyacán District, Pasco Province, in Peru's Pasco Region, at an elevation of 3,787 meters.
More drives to Cerro de Pasco
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
- Pucallpa to Cerro de Pasco
- Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco
- Lima to Cerro de Pasco
- Huancayo to Cerro de Pasco
- Trujillo to Cerro de Pasco
From Tarapoto to other places in Peru
- Tarapoto to Aguaytía
- Tarapoto to Huánuco
- Tarapoto to Churin
- Tarapoto to Tarma
- Tarapoto to Jauja
- Tarapoto to La Merced
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco?
About 11 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 427 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco?
About 427 miles (687 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 Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco?
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 Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco use?
In order: PE-5N, SM-839, PE-18A, PE-3N and PA-558. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tarapoto and Cerro de Pasco?
Closest to the road: Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 376, 0.4 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 380, 0.2 mi from the route); Markapukyu (archaeological site, mile 410, 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.