Trujillo to Tumbes is about 432 road miles (695 km): roughly 9 h 53 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 road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Total distance | 432 mi (695 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LI-585 → LI-508 |
| Regions on the route | La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Trujillo to Tumbes: the shape of the trip
PE-1N (400 mi) and LI-508 (10 mi) carry about 95% of the 432 miles. It runs through 4 regions: La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Trujillo and Tumbes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 8–63 | 55 | La Libertad |
| LI-585 | 63–69 | 6 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 69–71 | 2 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 71–78 | 7 | La Libertad |
| connecting roads | 78–79 | 1 | La Libertad |
| LI-508 | 79–89 | 10 | La Libertad |
| PE-1N | 89–121 | 32 | La Libertad, Lambayeque |
| local roads | 121–124 | 3 | Lambayeque |
| connecting roads | 124–126 | 2 | Lambayeque |
| PE-1N | 126–432 | 306 | Lambayeque, Piura, Tumbes |
- Mile 96 of this route: La Libertad → Lambayeque (region line)
- Mile 187 of this route: Lambayeque → Piura (region line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Piura → Tumbes (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Tumbes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 73), Úcupe (mile 101), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 124), Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 130)
- Museums and history: Farfán Archaeological Site (mile 73), La Otra Banda (mile 100), Úcupe (mile 101), St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (mile 124), Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (mile 130), Centro histórico de Piura (mile 253), Museo Municipal Vicús (mile 254)
Farfán Archaeological Site
Farfán is an archaeological complex in Guadalupe district, Pacasmayo province, in Peru's La Libertad department.
La Otra Banda
Near the hamlet of La Otra Banda, south of Zaña in Lambayeque, archaeologists from Chicago's Field Museum uncovered a 4,000-year-old temple and theater in June 2024.
Úcupe
Úcupe, 39 km from Chiclayo near the Saña River, is an archaeological zone of the Moche and Sicán cultures, including Huaca Limón and Huaca El Pueblo, where the Lord of Úcupe was found.
St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo
Chiclayo Cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Chiclayo, is a neoclassical church begun in 1869 to plans commissioned from Gustave Eiffel.
Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum
Lambayeque's Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum displays most of the key artifacts archaeologist Walter Alva found at Huaca Rajada in 1987, including the Lord of Sipán and his entourage.
Centro histórico de Piura
The founding core of Piura, its historic center lies between Bolognesi, Loreto and San Teodoro avenues and the Piura River and was declared Cultural Heritage of Peru in 1987.
Museo Municipal Vicús
Opened in 2001 in the city of Piura, the Museo Municipal Vicús is an archaeological museum with 2,700 pieces of the Vicús culture.
In Tumbes itself
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tumbes
Also called the Church of San Nicolás de Tolentino, St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Tumbes, in northern Peru.
Cabeza de Vaca, Tumbes
Cabeza de Vaca is an archaeological site in Peru's Corrales District, in the Tumbes Province of the Tumbes Region.
Museo de Sitio de Cabeza de Vaca “Gran Chilimasa”
In the Corrales district of Tumbes, the Cabeza de Vaca "Gran Chilimasa" site museum displays archaeological finds, photographs and plans produced during research and excavations at the site.
More drives to Tumbes
- Chimbote to Tumbes
- Cajamarca to Tumbes
- Portoviejo to Tumbes, Peru
- Manta to Tumbes, Peru
- Ibarra to Tumbes, Peru
From Trujillo to other places in Peru
- Trujillo to Barranca
- Trujillo to Huaral
- Trujillo to Churin
- Trujillo to Tocache
- Trujillo to Cerro de Pasco
- Trujillo to Huánuco
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Trujillo to Tumbes?
About 9 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 432 miles.
What is the driving distance from Trujillo to Tumbes?
About 432 miles (695 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 Trujillo to Tumbes drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Trujillo to Tumbes use?
In order: PE-1N, LI-585 and LI-508. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Trujillo to Tumbes?
Closest to the road: Farfán Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 73, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo (cathedral, mile 124, 0.3 mi from the route); Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (museum, mile 130, 0.2 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.