Tocache to Casma is about 342 road miles (550 km): roughly 9 h 4 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.”
| Total distance | 342 mi (550 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | SM-111 → PE-12A → PE-3N → PE-12 → AN-107 → PE-1NQ → PE-1N |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, La Libertad, Áncash |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Tocache–Casma drive in a few lines
PE-12A (212 mi) and PE-12 (37 mi) carry about 73% of the 342 miles. It runs through 4 regions: San Martín, Huánuco, La Libertad, Áncash. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tocache to Casma
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Martín |
| SM-111 | 2–24 | 22 | San Martín |
| PE-12A | 24–236 | 212 | San Martín, Huánuco, La Libertad, Áncash |
| PE-3N | 236–261 | 25 | Áncash |
| PE-12 | 261–298 | 37 | Áncash |
| AN-107 | 298–303 | 5 | Áncash |
| PE-1NQ | 303–318 | 15 | Áncash |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 319–341 | 22 | Áncash |
| local roads | 341–342 | 1 | Áncash |
- Mile 41 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 133 of this route: Huánuco → La Libertad (region line)
- Mile 139 of this route: La Libertad → Áncash (region line)
Places worth a stop between Tocache and Casma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Pato (mile 244)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Pato (mile 244), Calipuy National Reserve (mile 266)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (mile 311)
Cañón del Pato
Carved by the Santa River where the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra come closest, Cañón del Pato is a narrow river canyon in the Áncash region.
Calipuy National Reserve
Set aside mainly to protect guanaco populations, Calipuy National Reserve is a protected area in Peru's La Libertad region.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto
Facing the Plaza de Armas of Nuevo Chimbote, this cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Pedro Apóstol) covers about 2,000 square meters and holds 1,600 people.
In Casma itself
Cerro Sechín
Cerro Sechín is an archaeological site in Casma Province, Áncash Region, dating to around 1600 BC. Peruvian archaeologists Julio C. Tello and Toribio Mejía Xesspe found it in July 1937.
Manchan
Manchan is an archaeological site on a sandy plain beside farmland in the Casma Valley, 9.5 km from the ocean, occupied in the Late Intermediate and Late Horizon periods.
Sechin Alto
Dating to the Early Formative period, Sechin Alto is a massive architectural complex in Casma Province, Ancash, on the left bank of the Sechín River east of the town of Sechín.
More drives to Casma
From Tocache to other places in Peru
- Tocache to Churin
- Tocache to Jauja
- Tocache to La Merced
- Tocache to Oxapampa
- Tocache to Satipo
- Tocache to Puerto Ocopa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tocache to Casma?
About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tocache to Casma?
About 342 miles (550 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 Tocache to Casma drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tocache to Casma?
In order: SM-111, PE-12A, PE-3N, PE-12, AN-107, PE-1NQ and PE-1N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tocache to Casma?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Pato (canyon, mile 244, 0.3 mi from the route); Calipuy National Reserve (national reserve, mile 266, 7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen and San Pedro Apósto (cathedral, mile 311, 2 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.