Cajamarca Travel Guide

Travel to Cajamarca - Green hills and that traditional feel

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Cajamarca went down in history as the location that the Inca Empire came to an end. It was here that the recently-arrived Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, met with the Inca Emperor Atahualpa shortly after he had fought a civil war with his brother and tricked him into his demise. After entering the Inca city that had already been taken by the Spanish in good faith, he was captured and ransomed in one of its buildings. This Inca structure now known as the Ransom Room has been turned into a tourist attraction. Here, after paying the huge ransom for his release, the Spanish killed him anyway.

Cajamarca's history didn't begin with the Incas and Cumbe Mayo is testament to this. No one knows how locals, 3500 years before the advent of the high powered laser, were able to slice through solid rock at perfect angles as if it were butter, nor what the petroglyphs they left behind mean. The various niches carved into cliff faces around Cajamarca, from cultures that lived here centuries later are better understood. These “ventanillas”, or little windows, were tombs and some of the best examples, Otuzco and Combayo, are within reach of the city.

Above a valley that leads to the coast, the huge remains of Kuntur Wasi and its fascinating Chavin-esque monoliths are worth the long journey to see. Sooth those sore muscles in the Baños del Inca, the modernised and comfortable volcanic hot springs back in the city that Emperor Atahualpa used centuries ago.

Attractions in Cajamarca

Colonial City – A charming plaza, streets lined with colonial buildings, the finest Baroque church in the Americas and the Inca-built room in which Inca Atahualpa was held can all be visited before retiring to the volcanic hot springs of the emperor himself.

Cerro Apolonia – Once sat upon by Atahualpa to overlook his army, this hill that towers over the plaza can be climbed by following a steeply inclined street lined with picturesque houses. Where the Inca once sat, a huge white cross now stands.

Cumbe Mayo – Shaped by nature, this forest of hundreds of stone pinnacles hides an as yet unexplained archaeological treasure. A series of water channels, impossibly carved through solid mountains rock, travel over 9km. No-one knows how they were made or what the strange petroglyphs that alongside them mean.

Ventanillas de Otuzco – Carved into the faces of the cliffs just outside the city, these “windows” are nothing of the kind. These were tombs. Long since robbed, they now sit empty but are an interesting sight.

Ventanillas de Combayo – A greater distance from the city but free of the crowds and the unsightly urban sprawl Otuzco suffers, these cliff-face tombs carved at nerve-racking heights feel much more authentic.

Baños del Inca – Weary travellers beware. Clean and modern facilities built around volcanic hot springs once enjoyed by the Incas might keep you here longer than you intended!

Kuntur wasi – The Chavín-era ceremonial site of Kuntur Wasi attracted ancient pilgrims from across the region. Located on the top of a hill on a mountain overlooking the valley it was obviously important. Strange monoliths, figures carved into them, dot the area and an on-site museum explains what it all means.

Relaxing

Sooth those tired Andes-climbing muscles at the volcanic hot spings of the Baños del Inca.

Getting Around

Many attractions are within the city or nearby and can be reached easily on foot, by public bus or taxi.

Cumbe Mayo, the Ventanillas de Combayo and Kunturwasi can not be reached easily (or at all) by public bus.

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