The Wayro route from Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas is 303 miles (487 km), about 7 h 37 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.”
| Total distance | 303 mi (487 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-5NB → PE-5N → PE-08C |
| Regions on the route | Loreto, San Martín, Amazonas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Yurimaguas–Chachapoyas drive in a few lines
PE-5N (192 mi) and PE-5NB (74 mi) carry about 88% of the 303 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Loreto, San Martín, Amazonas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Loreto |
| PE-5NB | 1–75 | 74 | Loreto, San Martín |
| local roads | 75–80 | 5 | San Martín |
| PE-5N | 80–272 | 192 | San Martín, Amazonas |
| PE-08C | 272–296 | 24 | Amazonas |
| connecting roads | 296–297 | 1 | Amazonas |
| local roads | 297–303 | 6 | Amazonas |
- Mile 16 of this route: Loreto → San Martín (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: San Martín → Amazonas (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Yurimaguas and Chachapoyas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 70), Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 77), St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (mile 147), Tingorbamba (mile 286)
- Nature and outdoors: Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (mile 70), Catarata de Huacamaillo (mile 82), Yumbilla Falls (mile 269), Catarata La Chinata (mile 270), Gocta Cataracts (mile 281)
- Museums and history: Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (mile 77), Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista (mile 93), St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (mile 147), Tingorbamba (mile 286)
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.
Catarata de Huacamaillo
Huacamaillo waterfall drops in the San Antonio district of San Martín, Peru, in a ravine that feeds the Cumbaza River.
Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista
Museo Chanka y de la Diversidad Lamista is a Peruvian museum in Lamas district, in the San Martín department.
St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba
The Cathedral of St. James, also known as Moyobamba Cathedral, is the main church of the Territorial Prelature of Moyobamba and the San Martín department.
Yumbilla Falls
Near the town of Cuispes in Peru's Amazonas region, Yumbilla Falls became internationally known after a 2007 survey by the Geographical Institute of Peru.
Catarata La Chinata
With a drop of 580 meters, Catarata La Chinata ranks as Peru's fourth-highest waterfall, set in the cloud forest of Cuispes District in the Amazonas region.
Gocta Cataracts
In Bongará Province of the Amazonas region, Gocta is a year-round waterfall with two drops that flows into the Cocahuayco River.
Tingorbamba
Also called Pueblo de los Muertos, Tingorbamba is a Chachapoya archaeological site west of the Utcubamba River near Lamud, in Luya Province, at about 2,329 meters.
In Chachapoyas itself
Cañón del Sonche
In Peru's Amazonas department, the Sonche Canyon (Huanca Urco) runs about 11 kilometers to the Utcubamba River, with its top at 2,620 meters above sea level and a cool temperate climate.
Santa Ana Church, Amazonas
Built by the Spanish in 1569, Santa Ana Church stands on Chincha Alta street opposite Santa Ana's square and was the first church of its type in what is now Peru's Amazonas region.
Chachapoyas Cathedral
Chachapoyas Cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a Catholic parish church and the seat of the Diocese of Chachapoyas.
More drives to Chachapoyas
- Moyobamba to Chachapoyas
- Cajamarca to Chachapoyas
- Chota to Chachapoyas
- Tarapoto to Chachapoyas
- Juanjuí to Chachapoyas
- Chiclayo to Chachapoyas
From Yurimaguas to other places in Peru
- Yurimaguas to Moyobamba
- Yurimaguas to Juanjuí
- Yurimaguas to Aguaytía
- Yurimaguas to Cerro de Pasco
- Yurimaguas to Celendín
- Yurimaguas to Cajabamba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas?
About 7 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 303 miles.
How far is Chachapoyas from Yurimaguas by car?
About 303 miles (487 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 Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas?
In order: PE-5NB, PE-5N and PE-08C. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Yurimaguas to Chachapoyas?
Closest to the road: Catarata de Ahuashiyacu (waterfall, mile 70, 0.3 mi from the route); Regional Museum of the National University of San Martin (museum, mile 77, 0.2 mi from the route); Tingorbamba (archaeological site, mile 286, 0.6 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.