Cajamarca Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

Cajamarca continues its ancient role as a crossroads, with buses heading to all four points of the compass. Most bus terminals are close to cuadra (block) 3 of Atahualpa, about 1.5km southeast of the center (not to be confused with the Atahualpa in the town center), on the road to Los Baños del Inca.

The major route is westbound to the Pan­americana near Pacasmayo on the coast, then north to Chiclayo (six hours) or south to Trujillo (six hours) and Lima (14 hours).

The southbound road is the old route to Trujillo (at least 15 hours) via Cajabamba (4½ hours) and Huamachuco (7½ hours). For Huamachuco and on to Trujillo, change at Cajabamba. The trip to Trujillo takes two or three times longer on this rough dirt road than it does along the newer paved road via Pacasmayo, although the old route is only 60km longer. The scenery is prettier on the longer route, but most buses are less comfortable and less frequent beyond Cajabamba.

The rough northbound road to Chota (five hours) passes through wild and attractive countryside via Bambamarca, which has a busy market on Sunday morning. Buses run from Chota to Chiclayo along a knobby, rough road.

The staggeringly scenic eastbound road winds to Celendín (five hours), then bumps its way across the Andes, past Chachapoyas and down into the Amazon lowlands. The road between Celendín and Chachapoyas is beautiful but in bad condition and transport can be sporadic; if you’re going to Chachapoyas, consider traveling via Chiclayo and Bagua Grande, unless you have plenty of time and patience.

Cial (36 8701; Independencia 288) Has buses to Lima at 7pm (US$18 to US$24).

Civa (36 1460; Ayacucho 753) Good buses to Lima (US$24) at 7pm.

Cruz del Sur (36 1737; Via de Evitamiento 750) Luxury bus-cama (bed bus) to Lima (US$26.50) at 7pm. This terminal is several kilometers further along the road to Los Baños del Inca.

El Cumbe (36 3088; Atahualpa 300) Cheap buses to Chiclayo (US$4.50 to US$5.50) at 7am, 11:30am, 3pm and 9pm.

Flores (34 1294; Atahualpa 248) Cheap bus to Lima (US$12 to US$21) at 5pm.

Linea (36 3956; Atahualpa 318) Good-quality buses go to Lima (US$27) at 7pm, Chiclayo (US$4.50 to US$9) at 11am, 10:45pm and 11pm, and Trujillo (US$4.50 to US$10.50) at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 10pm and 10:30pm.

Ormeño (36 9885; Independencia 304) Good buses to Lima (US$13.50) at 8pm.

Royal Palace’s (34 3063; Atahualpa 337) Services to Celendín (US$3) at 9am, and cheap buses to Trujillo (US$4.50) at 11am and Lima (US$9) at 7:30pm.

Tepsa (36 3306; Atahualpa 300) Comfortable semi-cama (half bed) Lima service (US$24) at 6pm.

Transportes Atahualpa (36 3060; Atahualpa 299) Buses to Cajabamba (US$3) at noon, Celendín (US$3) at 7am and 1pm and Chota (US$4.50) via Bambamarca at 11am.

Transportes Horna (36 7671; Atahualpa 313) Buses to Lima (US$9) at 6pm, Trujillo (US$4.50) at 8am and 10pm and Cajabamba (US$3) at 2am and 5pm.

Transportes Rojas (34 0548; Atahualpa 405) Services to Cajabamba (US$3) at 2am, 9am, 11am, 2pm and 4pm.

Turismo Diaz (36 8289; Sucre 422) Lima buses (US$4.50 to US$9) at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm, Trujillo buses (US$4.50 to US$9) at 10am, 1pm and 10pm, and Chiclayo buses (US$4.50 to US$6) at 10:30am, 2pm and 10:30pm.

Turismo Nacional (34 0357; Atahualpa 309) Services to Celendín (US$3) at 7am and 1pm, and Chota (US$3) via Bambamarca at 11am.

There are also several minibuses to Cajamarca (US$4.50 to US$6), also leaving from cuadra 3 of Atahualpa.

Buses for Ventanillas de Otuzco (US$0.60, 20 minutes) leave from 500m north of the plaza. These pass the airport (US$0.20), though taking a taxi is much faster (US$1.50).

Combis (minibuses) for Los Baños del Inca (US$0.20, 25 minutes) leave frequently along J Sabogal, near 2 de Mayo. Some of these buses also continue onto Hacienda la Colpa (US$0.30, 40 minutes).

^ Back to top

Air

Schedules are subject to change, as well as occasional cancellations and delays, so reconfirm and arrive early at the airport (code CJA; 36 2523). The airport departure tax is $3.57.

Aero Condor Perú (36 2814, 36 5674; 2 de Mayo 323) has a morning flight from Lima to Cajamarca (US$109) at 5:45am, returning to Lima at 7:15am, daily from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday this flight leaves Lima at 3pm and returns at 5:30pm. LC Busre (36 1098; Lima 1024) also plies this route, with two daily flights leaving Lima (US$124) at 3:30pm and 3:45pm, and returning at 5:30pm and 5:45pm.

^ Back to top