Tourism in Cajamarca

The City of Cajamarca was one of the first places inhabited by Spaniards who gave the appearance to their cities. It is metropolis in which there is a mixture of influence between andean and european elements.

Important and historic monuments are located in this department like the Rescue Room, Churches, Inca’s Baths with thermal waters, Otuzco’s Windows, Cumbemayo’s channels made entirely in rock, and beautiful countrysides where forage destinated to one of the best cattle in Peru: the Holstein race, is cultivated.

Likewise, the Canyon of Maranon placed in the Province of Celendin, the San Andres de Cutervo Park and the Pacopampa ruins, Kunturwasi and Oxamarca are among the most remarkable places.

Geography of Cajamarca

Cajamarca is a department which most important limit is indicated at the East by the Maranon Watershed that divides the department of Amazonas. In order to increase the waters from the Maranon river, the rivers descend transversally from West to East, dividing this department into a series of partial watersheds or river basins like those formed by the Chinchipe and Tabaconas in the north, Huancabamba in the middle of the zone; and Chotano which runs in the south of the department passing through the provinces of Celendin, Cajamarca and Cajabamba.

The geographical situation of Cajamarca located at the north of Peru and with an equatorial climate, has modified completely its lifestyle. The richness showed by its pastures and the fecundity of its soils is extraordinary. Its relatively low highlands areas, with respect to the rest of the national territory, have been favored with a huge mineral richness. Not only gold, silver and copper but also molybdenum and tungsten are extracted in this zone.

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. (more…)

Region of Cajamarca

Cajamarca is a region in Peru. Area: 33,248 km2. Population: 1,259,808 (1993 census). The capital is the city of Cajamarca.

The department is divided in 13 provinces.

Province (Capital)
Cajabamba (Cajabamba)
Cajamarca (Cajamarca)
Celendin (Celendin)
Chota (Chota)
Contumaza (Contumaza)
Cutervo (Cutervo)
Hualgayoc (Bambamarca)
Jaen Province, Peru (Jaen, Peru)
San Ignacio Province (San Ignacio)
San Marcos Province (San Marcos, Peru)
San Miguel Province (San Miguel de Pallaques)
San Pablo Provine (San Pablo, Peru)
Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)

History of Cajamarca

The origin of the city goes back over 3,000 years. Traces of pre-Chavin cultures can be seen in surrounding archaeological sites such as Cumbe Mayo and Kuntur Wasi. During the period between 1463 and 1471, Tupac Inca conquered the area and brought Cajamarca into the Tawantinsuyu, or Inca empire, which at the time was still being ruled by Tupac’s father Pachacuti.

Cajamarca’s place in history is secured by the tragedy of 1532. Atahualpa had beaten his brother in a battle for the Inca throne in Quito. On his way back to Cusco to claim the throne with his army of 80,000 soldiers, he ran into a small band of about a 170 explorers (conquistadors) from a distant land.

These explorers invited Atahualpa to a peace ceremony in his honor in Cajamarca’s Plaza de Armas. For this the explorers sent a Friar, Vicente de Valverde, to convince Athualpa to adopt the Christian faith. Atahualpa merely observed a Christian bible handed to him and quickly threw it on the floor as a sign of indifference. The events that unfolded after this incident would only culminate in bringing about the end of the Inca Empire, as the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro invaded the Main Plaza of Cajamarca in the Battle of Cajamarca and soon captured Atahualpa and most of his army.

Once the Spanish had Atahualpa, they held him captive in Cajamarca’s main temple. They were able to convince Atahualpa’s generals not to attack by threatening to kill their king if they did. But the Conquistadors were also trapped, with only a small force. Atahualpa believed he understood these men, he thought all they were interested in were some valuables to bring back to their own king.

So he offered to fill a 88 m3 room with gold and twice over with silver, within two months. The Spanish were staggered by this offer. This room is now known as El Cuarto del Rescate, or “The Ransom Room”. Tourists to Cajamarca can see a room by this name in Cajamarca, but most likely the room is Atahualpa’s cell, not his ransom room. In the end Atahualpla had misjudged the Conquistadors; after they had the ransom they murdered him.

Introducation of Cajamarca

Cajamarca is located in the northern highlands of Peru, and is the capital of the Cajamarca region. It is approximately 2,700 m (8,900 ft) above sea level and has a population of about 100,000 people. Cajamarca has an equatorial climate so it is mild, dry and sunny, which creates very fertile soil. The city is well-known for its fine cheeses and dairy products.

T Cajamarca is also known for its churches, and hot springs, or Inca Baths. There are also several active mining sites in surrounding areas. Most of all, Peruvians remember Cajamarca as the place where the Inca Empire came to an end, since the Battle of Cajamarca along with the capture and execution of Inca emperor Atahualpa took place here.