By road, Tarapoto and La Merced are about 550 miles (885 km) apart, or roughly 14 h 12 min of driving.
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 | 550 mi (885 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 14 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-18A → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Tarapoto–La Merced drive in a few lines
PE-5N (268 mi) and PE-3N (118 mi) carry about 70% of the 550 miles. It runs through 4 regions: San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Tarapoto to La Merced: the road sequence
| 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 | 367–485 | 118 | Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 485–511 | 26 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 511–550 | 39 | Junín |
- Mile 207 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 455 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
What to see on the way from Tarapoto to La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huanacaure (mile 294), Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (mile 365), Awkimarka (mile 376), Cachipuquio (mile 490)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 11), Tingo María National Park (mile 296), Junín National Reserve (mile 450), Cachipuquio (mile 490)
- Museums and history: Huanacaure (mile 294), Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (mile 365), Kotosh (mile 367), Awkimarka (mile 376), Guellayhuasin (mile 403)
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Catarata de Pucayaquillo is a waterfall in the Shapaja District of San Martín Province, in Peru's San Martín region.
Huanacaure
Huanacaure is an archaeological site of the Inca and earlier cultures in Chinchao District, Huánuco Province, in Peru's Huánuco region.
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.
Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco
Huánuco Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, is the mother church of the Diocese of Huánuco, created in 1865. The original building dates from 1618.
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.
Guellayhuasin
Guellayhuasin is an archaeological site northwest of the village of Pallanchacra in Peru's Pasco region, at an elevation of 3,167 meters.
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Casma to La Merced
From Tarapoto to other places in Peru
- Tarapoto to Aguaytía
- Tarapoto to Huánuco
- Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco
- Tarapoto to Churin
- Tarapoto to Tarma
- Tarapoto to Jauja
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarapoto to La Merced?
About 14 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 550 miles.
How far is La Merced from Tarapoto by car?
About 550 miles (885 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 Tarapoto to La Merced drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tarapoto to La Merced?
In order: PE-5N, SM-839, PE-18A, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tarapoto to La Merced?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (cathedral, mile 365, 0.4 mi from the route); Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 376, 0.4 mi from the route); Cachipuquio (spring, mile 490, 0.0 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.