Regarding the origin of the word huaral, there are two hypotheses: Huaral is a geographical territory which lies north of the capital of Peru, located 80 km (50 mi) north of Lima, but starting its territory by the coast side at kilometer 58 of the North Panamerican Highway, in the middle of the "Serpentín de Pasamayo".

The territory of the city includes the coastal strip comprising all the Chancay valley to the high peaks of Vichaycocha, the source of the Chackal or Pasacmayo "Moon River".

Huaral was founded on March 21, 1551 by the Spanish, being Viceroy of Peru Antonio de Mendoza,[3] as "Settlement of the Indies".

After the establishment, its hegemony became more solid and dedicated from then to agriculture, achieving in the course of the colony commercial development.

However, it was dependent as an annex of Chancay but as time passed, its natural progress placed the town in the capacity to become independent from Chancay, a situation that was recognized by President Remigio Morales Bermúdez who decrees the creation of San Juan de Huaral on October 31, 1890.