The main land route to Cajamarca is via Pacasmayo. There are alternate routes via Huamachuco and inland from Chiclayo, but these are not used by direct buses, and take much longer, as well as being much rougher. The scenery, however, can be spectacular. Buses from Trujillo to the south and Chiclayo to the north all go via Pacasmayo. From Pacasmayo, the road to Cajamarca takes about five hours. The town of Chilete, 50km from Cajamarca, is the largest on the route and there are a couple of hostels here. Chilete can be used as a base to visit the ruins of Kunturwasi, 21km to the north, and combis leave from the Plaza de Armas, although most people who visit do so on a day trip from Cajamarca. The scenery on the route from Pacasmayo, although less spectacular than via Huamachuco or Chota, is still impressive.
For the more adventurous, it is possible to get from Chiclayo to Cajamarca heading inland from the start. This route goes via the pretty towns of Cochabamba, Chota and Bambamarca. Near Cochabamba is the Cutervo National Park. This route to Cajamarca takes around 22 hours, much longer than the route via Pacasmayo.
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