The Wayro route from Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco is 501 miles (806 km), about 13 h 22 min of driving without stops.
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.”
| Distance | 501 mi (806 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5NB → PE-5N → SM-839 → PE-18A → PE-3N → PA-558 |
| Regions on the route | Loreto, San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco drive plays out
PE-5N (267 mi) and PE-18A (87 mi) carry about 71% of the 501 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Loreto, San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Loreto |
| PE-5NB | 1–76 | 75 | Loreto, San Martín |
| PE-5N | 76–139 | 63 | San Martín |
| SM-839 | 139–145 | 6 | San Martín |
| local roads | 145–150 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 150–354 | 204 | San Martín, Huánuco |
| PE-18A | 354–441 | 87 | Huánuco |
| PE-3N | 441–493 | 52 | Huánuco, Pasco |
| PA-558 | 493–500 | 7 | Pasco |
| local roads | 500–501 | 1 | Pasco |
- Mile 16 of this route: Loreto → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 281 of this route: San Martín → Huánuco (region line)
- Mile 475 of this route: Huánuco → Pasco (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cerro de Pasco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 70), Shillacoto (mile 439), Awkimarka (mile 450), Hatun Uchku (mile 454), Markapukyu (mile 484)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 70), Cueva de las Lechuzas (mile 365), Tingo María National Park (mile 369)
- Museums and history: Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 76), Shillacoto (mile 439), Quillarumi (mile 441), Awkimarka (mile 450), Hatun Uchku (mile 454), Markapukyu (mile 484)
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
About 14 kilometers from Tarapoto along the road toward Yurimaguas, Catarata de Ahuashiyacu is a series of three waterfalls in Peru's San Martín region.
Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin
Run by the National University of San Martín in Tarapoto, this regional museum holds ethnographic and archaeological collections from the Peruvian Upper Amazon, including the 450-year-old Shimbillo-Chazuta mummy.
Cueva de las Lechuzas
Cueva de las Lechuzas is a cave located at an altitude of about 673 meters above sea level.
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.
Quillarumi
West of the town of Huánuco, Quillarumi is an archaeological site with rock paintings on a mountain slope at about 2,463 meters.
Awkimarka
Awkimarka is an archaeological site in Tomay Kichwa District, Ambo Province, in Peru's Huánuco Region.
Hatun Uchku
Hatun Uchku is a cave in Peru that holds both archaeological and paleontological remains.
Markapukyu
Markapukyu is an archaeological site in Yarusyacán District, Pasco Province, in Peru's Pasco Region, at an elevation of 3,787 meters.
More drives to Cerro de Pasco
- Huánuco to Cerro de Pasco
- Pucallpa to Cerro de Pasco
- Tarapoto to Cerro de Pasco
- Lima to Cerro de Pasco
- Huancayo to Cerro de Pasco
- Trujillo to Cerro de Pasco
From Yurimaguas to other places in Peru
- Yurimaguas to Moyobamba
- Yurimaguas to Juanjuí
- Yurimaguas to Aguaytía
- Yurimaguas to Celendín
- Yurimaguas to Cajabamba
- Yurimaguas to Jaén
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco?
About 13 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
What is the driving distance from Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco?
About 501 miles (806 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 Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco 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 Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco use?
In order: PE-5NB, PE-5N, SM-839, PE-18A, PE-3N and PA-558. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco?
Closest to the road: Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (waterfall, mile 70, 0.3 mi from the route); Awkimarka (archaeological site, mile 450, 0.3 mi from the route); Hatun Uchku (archaeological site, mile 454, 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.