Distance: 249 kms. Estimated duration: 4hrs.
Even though it is officially not a principal part of the Pan Americana it is considered as a branch of the Pan Americana highway. This section is the most transited part of the highway. Starting from Sullana (Km 1,032) from where there is a turn-off to the left to Paita, afterwards borders the Chira Valley, ascends through Tablazos Petroleros and and after a long drive in parallel with the coast of Tumbes. On this road you will pass bye a variety of towns; Mallaritos, Saman, Ignacio, Escudero. 75 kms from Sullana one passes bye the turn-off to Tallara. 12 kms further the route is confronted with a very dangerous uphill drive known as “Cuesta de La Viuda” (Known as the steep uphill drive of the widow) afterwards you one reaches “El Alto” and “ Cabo Blanco” (118 kms from Sullana). Shortly after driving through a plateau from where you can observe a petrol extraction field, initiates a steep descent which ends up in Los Oreganos (133 kms from Sullana), this place has beautiful beaches such as Punta Veleros and Vichayito.
From this point on a old section of the Panamericana highway you can reach Mancora ( at 147 kms distance) Turn off to Punta Sal (168 kms), Caneas (175 kms, Zorritos (222 kms) and La Cruz ( 231 from Sullana). To Tumbes (249 kms from Sullana) one arrives crossing a bridge over the Tumbes River. From this City to Aguas Verdes (Frontier City with Ecuador) there are 26 kms of asphalted road.