TOURIST INFORMATION
CAJAMARCA |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of Cajamarca is located in the central
north western highlands of Peru.
Area:
34 022 km2
Capital:
Cajamarca
Altitude:
2 720 m.a.s.l.
Average annual temperature: 14º C
(maximum 21º C and minimum 5º C). The rainy
season runs from December through March.
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
Lima-Trujillo-Cajamarca (865 km) following the North Pan-American
Highway and about 15 h car drive.
By
air: There are daily flights from the city of
Lima (about 1 h 10 minutes). |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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The origin of Cajamarca dates from the pre-Inca
period. The valley with the same name was the center of
the Caxamarca Culture which reached its highest development
between 500 and 1 000 AD. These territories were annexed
to the Tahuantinsuyo Empire in 1 465 during Inca Pachacútec’s
government.
During the Inca Empire, Cajamarca became a very important
administrative, military and religious center. Temples
and palaces were built and there are still some traces
of them, notably the Ransom Room.
On November 16th, 1 532, Cajamarca was the scenery of
one of the most important episodes of the American history,
when a group of Spaniards led by Francisco Pizarro took
Inca Atahualpa as prisoner.
The city reflects the Spanish influence on its architecture
characterized by its square design where, together with
religious buildings from the middle of the seventeenth
century and early eighteenth century, there are two-story
houses with hip curved roof tiles many of which have carved
stone porticos.
Today, the city of Cajamarca has been listed by the Organization
of American States (OAS) as part of the Historic and Cultural
Heritage of the Americas and a city that symbolizes Latin
American Unity. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF CAJAMARCA |
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The Cathedral
Jr. Cruz de Piedra s/n, Plaza de Armas.
Built in the seventeenth century and part of the eighteenth
century, it has an imposing façade, decorated
with striking volcanic rock inlay, and an interior of
finely detailed sculptures. Inside, its highlights include
a remarkable retable in the main altar and a carved
wood pulpit covered in gold leaf. The Sagrario Chapel
is adjacent to this church.
Church of San Francisco
Jr. Dos de Mayo at Plaza de Armas.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 15:00-18:00.
Entirely carved in volcanic rock, the first stage was
built in the late seventeenth century. It houses a Religious
Art Museum, an art gallery and crypts.
Belén Monumental Complex
Jr. Belén block 6.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00
Comprises a temple built in volcanic rock, dating from
the eighteenth century. Former hospitals for men and
women dating back to the Colonial eighteenth century
period that have been conditioned as museums.
La Recoleta Monumental Complex
Corner of Av. Maestro and Av. Los Héroes.
Visits: during Mass hours.
Comprising the Church and the Former Convent of the
Recolección Franciscana. Instead of towers it
features elegant belfries.
Mirador de Santa Apolonia
Natural lookout which overlooks the valley and the city
of Cajamarca. One can reach the summit of this mountain
taking a wide stairway. There is a Classic chapel dedicated
to the Virgin of Fátima and pre-Inca remains
such as a stone altar known as Silla del Inca (the Inca’s
Throne). The access stairway to Santa Apolonia Hill
is located at Jr. Dos de Mayo, two blocks from the Main
Square.
The Ransom Room
Jr. Amalia Puga 750.
Visits Monday to Saturday 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00,
Sunday-holidays 9:00-12:00.
Located one-half block from the Main Square. It was
the room which, according to the chroniclers, Inca Atahualpa
offered to fill with gold once and with silver twice
to obtain his freedom. |
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| THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
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The Inca Baths
Located in the province of Baños del Inca, 6 km
east of the city of Cajamarca and about 4 minutes drive.
History tells that it was here that the Inca used to take
thermal baths.
Cutervo National
Park
Located in the province of Cutervo 260 km north of the
city of Cajamarca and about 14 h y 30 minutes car drive.
Here visitors can watch several varieties of flora (scrublands,
dwarf forests and wet montane forests) as well as fauna
such as jaguars (panthera onca), tigrillos (leopardus
pardalis), spectacled bear, otters, etc).
Cumbemayo
Archaeological Complex
Located in the province of San Pablo, 20 km southwest
of the city of Cajamarca and about one h drive. This mystic
spot of unique natural beauty features a remarkable aqueduct
(pre-Inca irrigation channel carved from rock), the sanctuary
(a rocky outcrop in the shape of a giant human head and
petroglyphs), the frailones (huge stone forest forming
fanciful shapes that resemble monks’ silhouettes)
and ceremonial altars (located along the aqueduct).
Bosque de Rocas (The Stone
Forest)
Located 180 km from the city of Cajamarca, about 8 h drive,
it spreads over a considerable area, noteworthy for its
various fanciful shapes, the most known of them being
those resembling the silhouette of monks moving on a silent
procession.
The Windows
of Otuzco
Located in the district of Baños del Inca, 8 km
north east of the city of Cajamarca and about 15 minutes
drive, featuring important surviving archaeological testimony
to the ancient inhabitants of Cajamarca. Most of them
are single niches but there are also multiple niches
Kuntur Wasi
Located in the province of San Pablo, 108 km northwest
of the city of Cajamarca and about 2 h 45 minutes drive.
Archaeological monument on La Copa hill, formed by a ceremonial
complex comprising several plazas and platforms supported
by huge stone walls.
Cooperativa
Atahualpa Jerusalén (Porcón Farm)
Located 30 km north of the city of Cajamarca, about 1
h drive, its landscape has been improved thanks to the
afforestation of a number of hectares of forests where
wildlife flora and fauna has reappeared.
Interactive Tourism project:
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Agrotourism
in Cajamarca: Porcón Farm, Agrotourism,nature,
trekking and cultural exchange. Porcón Farm
is one of the few examples of a successful and fully
functioning cooperative. The cooperative has decided
to open the doors of its farm to tourism, so that
the visitor can enjoy its efficient production and
the unique lifestyle of its inhabitants, delight
in walks across its beautiful fields and forests
and participate in the farm’s agriculture,
cattle-breeding and forestal activities which may
vary according to the season. |
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| FOLKLORE |
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| Cajamarca´s folkloric expressions
are always related to religious celebration and patron
saints’ feasts, with dances such as the Cashua,
the Chunchos or White Dance, the Pallas, the Pachilla,
the feathered or imperial dance and the Devils’
dance. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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| Cajamarca craftsmen are noted for their
woolen, leather, wood, hemp rope, clay and stone works,
which evidence the art and creativity of the people who
convey our cultural identity in their utilitarian and
decorative products. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes:
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Picante de cuy con papa (guinea pig
stew with peanut and panca chili sauce served with
potatoes). |
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Chicharrón con mote (pork cracklings served
with separated mature corn or maize kernels). |
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Humitas (steamed sweet corn dough stuffed with
cinnamon and raisins, wrapped in maize leaves). |
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Chupe verde (potato soup with bone broth). |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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Cajamarca Carnival
(February - March, mobile)
Carnival has acquired characteristics which are very typical
of Cajamarca comprising traditional expressions and involving
the participation of institutions, quarters, etc. The
celebration lasts approximately one month, however the
central days are just eight.
Feast of the
Crosses (March - April)
On the central day, Palm Sunday, four different ceremonies
take place, the coronation of the crosses, the salutation
to the Lord at the house of the mayordomo (the person
entrusted with the task of leading the celebrations),
the various prayers in Quechua and Latin and, lastly,
the procession to the hacienda’s chapel with more
than 50 crosses, each weighing approximately 60 kilos. |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Armando Revoredo Iglesias.
3 km from the city of Cajamarca.
Phone (044) 82-2523.
Open: Monday to Sunday 8:15-15:45.
Land Transport
There is no land terminal, however a number of carrier
companies gather in the following streets: calle Atahualpa
blocks 2-4 and calle Independencia blocks 2-4.
Health Centers
Cajamarca
Hospital Regional.
Av. Mario Urteaga 500, Cajamarca.
Phone: (044) 82-2414 / 82-2533.
24 hour service.
Jaén
Hospital Sub Regional de Jaén.
Prolongación Huamantanga s/n.
Phone: (044) 73-1268.
24 hour service.
Police Stations
Policía Nacional.
Jr. Ayacucho s/n, Plazuela Amalia Puga.
Phone: (044) 82-3438 / 82-2941.
24 hour service.
Handicrafts Markets
Handicrafts shops are located in the following streets:
Calle Dos de Mayo block 2; Jr. Sucre block 6; Jr. Bolívar
block 3 and Jr. Horacio Urteaga block 1.
Post Office
Calle Amazonas 443.
Phone (044) 82-2206 / 82-4065.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-21:15, Sunday 8:00.15:00. |
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