Plan on about 9 h 55 min of driving for the 367-mile (590 km) trip from Tocache to La Merced, 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.”
| Distance | 367 mi (590 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5N → PE-18A → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Tocache to La Merced
PE-3N (119 mi) and PE-5N (97 mi) carry about 59% of the 367 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.
Tocache to La Merced: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE-5N | 0–97 | 97 | San Martín, Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 97–183 | 86 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 183–302 | 119 | Huánuco, Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 302–328 | 26 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 328–367 | 39 | Junín |
- Mile 24 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tocache and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín botánico de Tingo María (mile 107), Huanacaure (mile 111), Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (mile 181), Cachipuquio (mile 306)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico de Tingo María (mile 107), Tingo María National Park (mile 112), Junín National Reserve (mile 267), Cachipuquio (mile 306), Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 308)
- Museums and history: Huanacaure (mile 111), Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (mile 181), Kotosh (mile 183), Guellayhuasin (mile 220)
Jardín botánico de Tingo María
Run by the National Agrarian University of the Jungle, the Jardín botánico de Tingo María covers 5 hectares in the city of Tingo María, Peru.
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.
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.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Casma to La Merced
From Tocache to other places in Peru
- Tocache to Churin
- Tocache to Jauja
- Tocache to Oxapampa
- Tocache to Satipo
- Tocache to Puerto Ocopa
- Tocache to Casma
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tocache to La Merced?
About 9 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tocache to La Merced?
About 367 miles (590 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 Tocache to La Merced?
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 La Merced?
In order: PE-5N, PE-18A, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tocache and La Merced?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico de Tingo María (botanical garden, mile 107, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of the Lord of Burgos, Huánuco (cathedral, mile 181, 0.4 mi from the route); Cachipuquio (spring, mile 306, 0.1 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.