Tarma to Caraz is about 393 road miles (632 km): roughly 10 h 7 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: “Roads are often poorly maintained and may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 393 mi (632 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | JU-645 → PE-3N → PE-3NE |
| Regions on the route | Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Tarma to Caraz: the shape of the trip
PE-3N (354 mi) and PE-3NE (18 mi) carry about 95% of the 393 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tarma to Caraz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 9–21 | 12 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 21–282 | 261 | Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash |
| PE-3NE | 282–300 | 18 | Áncash |
| PE-3N | 300–393 | 93 | Áncash |
- Mile 62 of this route: Junín → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Pasco → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Huánuco → Áncash (region line)
Stops between Tarma and Caraz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Markapukyu (mile 106), Hatun Uchku (mile 135), Mazur (mile 193)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 31), Junín National Reserve (mile 66), Huascarán National Park (mile 355)
- Museums and history: Markapukyu (mile 106), Hatun Uchku (mile 135), Mazur (mile 193), Sahuay (mile 221), Hatun Machay (mile 305)
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
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.
Markapukyu
Markapukyu is an archaeological site in Yarusyacán District, Pasco Province, in Peru's Pasco Region, at an elevation of 3,787 meters.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Mazur
Mazur is an archaeological site in Peru's Huánuco department, close to the town of Chavinillo.
Sahuay
Sahuay, also spelled Saway, is an archaeological zone in Peru listed among the sites along this route.
Hatun Machay
Hatun Machay is a rock forest in Peru where archaeological remains can be found among the stone formations.
Mirador de Rataquenua
From this natural lookout on Rataquenua hill, at about 3,314 meters on the southeast side of Huaraz, you can see the city and part of the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca.
Huascarán National Park
Protecting most of the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, Huascarán National Park covers about 840,000 acres of the central Andes and is managed by Peru's SERNANP.
When you get to Caraz
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 Tarma to other places in Peru
- Tarma to Aguaytía
- Tarma to Tocache
- Tarma to Moyobamba
- Tarma to Satipo
- Tarma to Huancavelica
- Tarma to Casma
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tarma to Caraz?
About 10 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 393 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tarma to Caraz?
About 393 miles (632 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 Tarma to Caraz?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tarma to Caraz?
In order: JU-645, PE-3N and PE-3NE. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tarma and Caraz?
Closest to the road: Markapukyu (archaeological site, mile 106, 0.7 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Mazur (archaeological site, mile 193, 0.4 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.