Tarapoto to Tarma is about 516 road miles (830 km): roughly 13 h 19 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: “Road travel at night is particularly dangerous.”
| Distance by road | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-18A → PE-3N → JU-645 |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Tarapoto to Tarma drive plays out
PE-5N (268 mi) and PE-3N (128 mi) carry about 77% of the 516 miles. It runs through 4 regions: San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tarapoto to Tarma, road by road
| 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 | 367–495 | 128 | Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| JU-645 | 495–506 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 506–507 | 1 | Junín |
| local roads | 507–516 | 9 | 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tarapoto and Tarma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huanacaure (mile 294), Shillacoto (mile 365), Markapukyu (mile 410)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Pucayaquillo (mile 11), Tingo María National Park (mile 296), Junín National Reserve (mile 450), Cachipuquio (mile 485), Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 485)
- Museums and history: Huanacaure (mile 294), Shillacoto (mile 365), Guellayhuasin (mile 403), 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.
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.
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.
Guellayhuasin
Guellayhuasin is an archaeological site northwest of the village of Pallanchacra in Peru's Pasco region, at an elevation of 3,167 meters.
Markapukyu
Markapukyu is an archaeological site in Yarusyacán District, Pasco Province, in Peru's Pasco Region, at an elevation of 3,787 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.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
When you get to Tarma
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
More drives to Tarma
- Cerro de Pasco to Tarma
- Lima to Tarma
- Huánuco to Tarma
- Huaral to Tarma
- Barranca to Tarma
- Pucallpa to Tarma
From Tarapoto to other places in Peru
- Tarapoto to Aguaytía
- Tarapoto to Huánuco
- Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco
- Tarapoto to Churin
- Tarapoto to Jauja
- Tarapoto to La Merced
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarapoto to Tarma?
About 13 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tarapoto to Tarma?
About 516 miles (830 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 Tarma 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 Tarma?
In order: PE-5N, SM-839, PE-18A, PE-3N and JU-645. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tarapoto to Tarma?
Closest to the road: Huanacaure (archaeological site, mile 294, 0.7 mi from the route); Shillacoto (archaeological site, mile 365, 0.7 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.