Explore Cajamarca, the scene of the last beats of the Inca Empire that will catch you with its mysterious charm and fantastic history that come together to create an unforgettable experience. In this impressive region, you will find a magnificent colonial architecture, colourful villages and exquisite cuisine.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Cumbemayo: a complex of singular beauty, integrated by three archaeological groups known as "the aqueduct", "the sanctuary" and "the caves", surrounded by an interesting forest of stones that resemble the silhouettes of pious friars.
Porcón Farm: agricultural cooperative with an area of 12,800 hectares is the perfect setting for experiential tourism, allowing visitors to integrate with nature and share daily activities with the community.
Day 1: ARRIVAL CAJAMARCA (5km – 10min)
Arrive at Cajamarca Airport and enjoy a comfortable transfer you to your selected hotel. A representative will accompany you, offering useful information about the city attractions and assisting you along the way. Check-in at the hotel. At around 02:00 pm, you will start your tour on the Santa Apolonia hill, from whose top you have a beautiful view of the entire city. Walk a little through the place, and you will find some remains of buildings of the Chavin culture and the famous 'Inca Chair', a structure formed by two stone blocks that emerge from the hill. The tour continues with a visit to the Rescue Room, the only Inca evidence that remains in Cajamarca. It was in this place where the Inca Atahualpa was captive by Spanish forces for eight months. Although his rescue was stipulated in an amount of gold equivalent to the volume of the room and two other equal silver and it was paid, the conquerors proceeded with his execution in the Main Square. Then move on to the San Francisco Church, a religious complex known previously as San Antonio de Padua. It was built at the end of the 17th century with stone blocks from the "Sierpe House" - the residence of the Cajamarca chieftain - and the quarry of the hill Saint Apolonia. The next stop is the Main Square, with an important value for the history of Peru as it marked the meeting point between the Spanish conquerors and the Incas. There you can find the Cathedral, with its peculiar Plateresque-style volcanic stone facade. After the walk, return to the hotel to rest. In the afternoon, transport will pick you up to take you to the Inca's Baths. It is a set of hot springs where the Inca used to rest. It is believed that during the height of the empire, it was a stately residence surrounded by trees and springs, a luxury spa for the elite. After the tour, you will return to your hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 2: CAJAMARCA
Breakfast at the hotel followed by pick-up at around 08:30 am. Today you will visit the Cumbemayo complex, which brings together three archaeological groups known as 'the aqueduct', 'the sanctuary' and 'the caves', surrounded by a majestic stone forest. 'The aqueduct' is an open channel in the nine-kilometre volcanic rock and was intended to derive the waters to the city of Cajamarca. For its part, 'the sanctuary' is a cliff with the appearance of a human head, whose mouth is a crack in low relief with engravings. When walking through 'the caves' of the place, you can see some drawn lines and other anthropomorphic and feline figures. At the end of the tour, you will return to your hotel. In the afternoon, transportation will pick you up at around 02:00 pm to go to the Otuzco Windows, a cemetery belonging to the Cajamarca culture that dates from the first centuries after Christ. There you can see a series of rectangular niches carved in a solid block of rock that can reach up to 10 meters deep. It’s believed that the bodies were buried first in the ground and, after a while, some bones and skulls were moved to the windows. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 3: CAJAMARCA
Breakfast at the hotel followed by pick-up at around 08:00 am. Start the day with a visit to the stonecutters of Huambocancha, real artisans. In this town, whole families are dedicated to the creation of works of art carved in stone with detailed and quality work. Then, continue to the Porcón farm, a forestation project that turned this area of Cajamarca into an incredible pine forest and has attracted the attention of hundreds of visitors. Beside of walking through the woods, tourists can do adventure activities such as cycling, horseback riding, experiential tourism and enjoy delicious dishes prepared with giant mushrooms that are grown on-site (own expense). After the tour, return to your hotel to rest.
Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 4: DEPARTURE CAJAMARCA (5km – 10min)
Breakfast at the hotel. Your representative will assist you with check out and accompany you on the short transfer to Cajamarca’s airport.
Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for visiting the coastal areas of Peru, while for the high Andean area the use of warm clothing is recommended. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
