Route From Lima to Northern Highlands

Lima – Conococha. Distance: 331 kms. Asphalted highway. 

Estimated duration: 6 to 7hrs. Lima-Turn-off Pativilca (209km).

North Pan American highway. Pativilca-Conococha (122kms). Asphalted double lane highway, which passes bye Pativilca, the turn-off to Huaraz begins at km 209. There is a small post which marks the initiation at 000 kms. The first 50 kms are of a light up-hill drive but with tight and dangerous curves. Be aware of the vehicles coming on your contrary lane due to the reason that they usually come at high speed downhill. Passing Chasquitambo (Km 48), where there is a police check-point the up-hill drive from there on will become steeper until reaching 4,100 m.a.s.l the Conococha lagoon.  You will pass bye the towns of Raquia, Coica (Last Petrol Station in 100 kms) and Cajacay where there is another Police Check-point. The traffic is less dense on the Carretera Central, but there are many tight curves and steep uphill drive. Ocasionally you may find on the way cow herds, please be aware of mud slides or rocks on the road as well as fog, especially in rainy season. The Village of Conococha is located in the Km 120 on this very route, but changes to Km 488 due to the reason that it crosses the route 3N which starts from La Oroya (Km 0) and reaches Huaraz and other towns of the Callejon de Huaylas.

Conocochas – Huaraz. Distance: 79kms. Asphalted road. Estimated Duration; 1 to 1.5 hrs. Easy downhill drive until Huaraz (3,050 m.a.s.l). Conococha (at 120 kms from the deviation of Pativilca), The highest point is at 4,100 m.a.s.l  at the entrance of the El Callejon de Huaylas, with a spectacular view of the northern white Cordillera and briefly of the Huayhuash Cordillera to the east. From Conococha to Huaraz the descent has beautiful landscapes passing the valley of Catac (Km 532 Route 3N; turn-off point to Chavin de Huantar and the Callejon de Conchucos) there are petrol stations and all the basics things one requires.  But Recuay is near (Km 543 Route 3N) and has a resting place which has more adecuate services known as “La Gatuna”. From Recuay to Huaraz there are only 25 kms of  easy descent. From Conococha begins a new asphalted road newly built, which avoids you from going to Chiquian and Aquia  in order to pass Pacha Paqui. From this point onwards the road is non-asphalted which leads you to Huallanca (To the east) and on a asphalted road  to Antamina (To the north). The access to the mine is restricted (Please check the paragraph dedicated to Antamina in the principal information text). In case getting permission to cross the mine, you may take afterwards the non-asphalted road which leads you to San Marcos and Chavin de Huantar. Antamina the mining company has programmed the construction of a road which will avoid crossing the mine company and should descent down to the town of San Marcos. The travellers travelling to Huaraz who only for brief moments wish to have a spectacular view of the Huayhuash Cordillera, may turn-off to Aquia heading east. To go and observe the Huayhuash Cordillera and come back to Conococha will take you one hour aprox.

Huaraz-Caraz-Huallanca Distance: 106 kms.

Estimated duration: 2hrs. Asphalted road.

The road follows the River Santa and descents a spectacular route. It will give you a panoramic view of the snow cap of El Huascaran and other mountains of the Cordillera Blanca. Crosses Carhuaz (33 kms), Yungay (56 kms), Caraz (68 kms) and a variety of little villages. 25 kms from Caraz the road will go through a numerous amount of tunnels and steep abysms. This route enters the impressive Pato Canyon which is 14 kms long and is pierced by the road through 25 tunnels until arriving at Huallanca. In Huallanca you will find the hydroelectric of the Pato Canyon. This road leads you to Chimbote (more than 150 kms),  but this non-asphalted road is in very bad conditions and there is only one petrol station until reaching Chimbote. From Chuquicara the road is asphalted, as part of the Chimbote-Cabana section. Due to this motive it is recommendable that this route should only be driven by well experienced drivers and 4x4 units. There is another road but it’s in the same conditions which drives around the northern Cordillera Blanca and reaches the towns of Sihuas and Pomabamba.

Caraz-Nepena  Distance: 151 kms. Estimated duration: 6 hrs.

This non-asphalted route follows the Santa River until crossing the bridge of Choquechaca (7 kms) at this point onward take the deviation to Huata, which is about 10 kms away. Afterwards descent through the Eucalyptus forest, arriving at the mountain pass known as Chacay (4,200 m.a.s.l after 38 kms) and after a brief drive on the crest take the turn-off to your right which will take you on a descent to Pamparomas (25 kms). (Continuing  on the deviation to the left, on the route to Pueblo Libre, you will be able to observe the Puya Raymondi and nearly 120 kms of snowy mountain ranges and glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca). When descending one crosses a variety of villages and after passing bye Pamparomas one arrives at Moro (49 kms) which has restaurants. A interesting dessert section of the road leads you to San Jacinto (12 kms), from where starts off the asphalted road. Once crossing Nepena (10 kms) it intersects with the Northern Pan Americana highway at Km 206.

Lima-Catac-Chavin Distance: 372 kms. Estimated duration: 7 to 8 hrs.
Lima-Catac (306 kms). Asphalted road. Please check out route Callejon de Huaylas. Catac-Chavín (66 kms). Leaving Catac, asphalted road which reaches the tunnel of Cahuish (4,516 m.a.s.l). from here on its only 35 kms to Chavin, road is asphalted until Machac. From there on initiates a non-asphalted road in good conditions. After passing the traffic sign in which indicates the entrance route to the National Park of Huascaran, one arrives at the beautiful lagoon called Querococha on skirts of the Pucaraju and Yanamarey mountain. The road continues to ascend until reaching the tunnel Cahuish (4,550 m.a.s.l) the longest tunnel in the country. From there on there is a road section in bad conditions and a descent between steep abysms until reaching Chavin at 3,150 m.a.s.l.

CHAVÍN-HUARI Distance: 42 kms. Estimated duration: 1.5 hrs.
Leaving Chavin de Huantar, towards the north, one crosses the town of San Marcos (Only basic services available) and the turn-off point to the town of Huantar. The route descends until the bridge of Pomachaca from where starts the deviation or turn-off point to Llamellin, the ruins of Rapayan and the Maranon River, in that very spot on the left hand there is a 90 degree curve. If you drive to fast and without any prior notice you might just end up in the River Huari. The route ascends and after crossing the Huayochaca bridge one arrives at the town known as Huari, this is the most important in the Cochucos area.

HUARI-SAN LUIS-YUNGAY. Distance: 171 kms.

Estimated duration: 7 to 9 hrs.
Non-asphalted road. 2kms north of Huari on the left hand side, you will find the turn-off to the lagoon Purhuay. The rout ascends up to the mountain pass of Huachococha (30 kms North of Huari) and afterwards descends to the town of San Luis (there are 61 kms distance between Huari and San Luis). On this route one passes bye at short distance of the Inca Trail that connected Cajamarca with Cusco, today still in excellent conditions. 28 kms north of San Luis you will come across the Llacma bridge. The principal route continues north (on the right hand) will lead you to the villages of Piscobamba, Pomabamba and Sihuas. We suggest you to visit Pomabamba due to its archaeological ruins, beautiful landscape and lively traditions. The route which takes you north of the Conchucos area is very difficult and has no main attractions. To return to the Callejon de Huaylas and Huaraz, it is best to return to the Llacma bridge and take the deviation to Yanama (To the west; be aware that there are no signboards which indicates the route to take). Lake most of the towns in the Conchuco area, this one has no hotels but you can get basic rooms and restaurants . The landscapes of the Cordillera are just spectacular . From Yanama the road which climbs up to Portachuelo of Llanganuco (4,750 m.a.s.l) is a lot wider but with a lot of curves. The downhill drive leads you to the Llanganuco lagoons which offers beautiful views of the Huascaran, Huandoy, Chacraraju and Chopicalqui. From Llanganuco to Yungay the descent is of 26 kms, it takes a little more than 1.5 hrs. If you wish to visit the sanctuary of Pomallucay (2,800 m.a.s.l), dedicated to the crucification of Christ. The road to San Luis is non-asphalted and in regular conditions.

SAN LUIS-CHACAS-PUNTA OLIMPICA-CARHUAZ. Distance: 104 kms. Estimated duration; 5 to 5 ½ hrs.
Non-asphalted road. If you do not wish to continue to the north of the Conchucos, in San Luis you can take the deviation to Chacas. This section is of 22 kms long returning to the Callejon de Huaylas. It is a lot shorter but it is not in good conditions. A visit to Chacas might be interesting for those who appreciate wood carvings which has made the locals very famous. From Chacas to Carhuaz there are 82 kms and takes 4 hrs of journey. The road is non asphalted and it is in regular conditions (31 kms) ascends to the mining zone called Pompey, it covers a beautiful and long uphill drive under the skirts of the snowy mountain ranges of Ulta and Contrahierbas and arrives at Punta Olimpica (4,900 m.a.s.l). The mountain pass through Punta Olimpica is a mountain pass of 100 mtrs. long and 4 mtrs. Wide and 9 mtrs deep. It is spectacular. From there you may have a look at one of the most beautiful outlook onto the Huascaran and Chopicalqui, and from there initiates the descent on a road which is in a better state until the Ulta ridge, in order to reach Carhuaz ( 51 kms from Punta Olimpica).