Archaeological Sites in Cajamarca

Cumbe Mayo (in Quechua language that means fine river) Located 21 km (13 miles) south west of Cajamarca, the highway that leads to it is half asphalted and the other half is not.

This archaeological deposit belongs to the Caxamarca culture (XI Century), the biggest megalithic construction in America, covers an area of 25,000 sq/mt. There exist a fortress, sanctuaries and caves with stone carvings.

Outstanding the water channels, considered as the maximum expression in hydraulic engineering. The aqueduct is channel finely carved in rock, with more than 1 km (0.62 miles) length and 1.5 m. (4.92 feet) gradient, traced forming borders and straight angles to control flow speed, avoiding the water to return and also the erosion.

Los Frailones (stony forest) is very close to it.

Ventanillas de Otuzco
Archaeological center of the Caxamarca culture, located 8 km. (4,9 miles) north east of Cajamarca. Is a big necropolis of megalithic construction; the graves had been sculpted in the rock, superposed one on top of the other and protected against the rain with narrow channels.

There are also galleries of graves that have 10 m. depth. Some rocks are carved with animal shapes.

Ventanillas de Combamayo
Archaeological center of the Caxamarca culture, located 25 km. (15.5 miles) north east of Cajamarca, their characteristics are similar as the ones described in Ventanillas de Otuzco.

“Cuarto del Rescate” (Rescue Room)
After the encounter between Inca Atahualpa and the Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro and his army on November 16th , 1532, Atahualpa was arrested and imprisoned in his own royal room. The Spaniards with hunger of wealth, offer Atahualpa’s freedom in exchange of gold. Atahualpa offered to fill the room with gold once and twice with silver as high as his extended hand could reach, and so he did. He collected the gold and silver from all over Tahuantinsuyo. Anyway, Pizarro ordered the execution of the Inca. This wealthy rescue is considered the most important ever paid in the human history.

The room in which all this happened, today called “Cuarto de Rescate” (Rescue Room), was destroyed by the Spaniards, by the ends of XIX century and rebuilt at its original way, with ashlar and trapezoidal graves. It is located at Amalia Street No. 750, two blocks next to the Main Plaza.

Banos del Inca (Inca’s Baths)
Located 5 km. (3.1 miles) east of Cajamarca, at the district of the same name. This is a place of warm medicinal springs, in which the Inca built pools and rooms for healing and resting. Being one of those for the exclusive use of the Inca, that still now is well preserved.

In the areas around of “Banos del Inca”, you may find contemporary constructions to obtain the benefits of the medical springs as a watering place.