CAJAMARCA  TOURIST INFORMATION

LEGENT AND TRADITION

Cajamarca cultural tradition goes back to eras way before the Incas. From the years 1000 BC to 200 BC, the place belonged to a northern cultural area where important ceremonial centers were built. Its remains make it possible to appreciate nowadays, among others, the careful goldsmith work made by its town people. Later , by the year 900AD, in this scenery Caxamarca culture with a rich pottery tradition was born in 1532, Cajamarca was the scenery of one mot transcedental events in world history. It was when Francisco Pizarro met Inca Atahualpa and was the begginning of the modern history of our country. Atahualpa was imprisoned by a groop of Spaniards. He offered them as redemption for his freedom a room filled with gold and two with silver. Some month later the Inca was condemned to die umnder the garrote penalty. It opened this way a new stage in the history of this territory where San Antonio de Cajamarca consolidates, built on the remains of the old inca town in the XVI Century.

WEATHER AND ACCESS

Cajamarca region has two very well distinguished seasons, one rainy from December to March, and another quite dry from April to November which is the most advisable for visits.

The days are warm and sunny with a maximun temperature of 21 C while in the evening  the temperature goes down to 5 c, the city is located at 2,720 meters above sea level, so people dont usually have problems with the altitude "soroche", it is possible to get to Cajamarca by road, and bay air from Lima, The flight take  hour and 10 minutes.

CAJAMARCA TOURIST ATTRACCTIONS

CAJAMARCA CATHEDRAL OR SAINT CATALINA MAIN CHURCH

By means of Royal Decree dated November 26, 1665 its construcction was ordered, the church was elevated to the category of Cathedral in 1682. It is one of the most oustanding peruvian Baroque samples and its facade harmoniously combines columns, cornices and niche finely carved. In its three areas the main altar and the pulpit stand out, both carved in wood and covered with gold plate.

SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH (Initially called " San Antonio")

It was built in 1699. In 1952, some catacombs were discovered under the main altar where the remais o numerous members of the Franciscan order and native nobility were placed. In addition to the church, other placed that can be visited are the convent, the Religious art museum and the Sorrowful Virgin Sanctuary who is the city patron saint.  It is located in the sacrarium Chapel 1685, adjacent to San Francisco Church.

BELEN MONUMENTAL GROUP

It is an architectonic group from the XVIII Century which includes the church, the former Hospital for men ( medical museum) and the former Hospital for women ( Archeological and Ethnographic museum), formelycalled "Hospital de nuestra señora de la Piedad ". The Baroque style temple outstands for its carefully stone carved entrance, the unfinished towers, the arches, and the lateral buttresses.

LA RECOLETA MONUMENTAL GROUP

This Group is made up of the church and the convent, both constructios belong to the second hald of the XVII Century. The temple facade has a plateresque,neoclassic altarpiece shape, with elegant domes instead of towers, Its interior , made of only one area, displays a beautiful dome, high choir place, and three formal altars.

SANTA APOLONIA NATURAL MIRADOR

Santa Apolonia Hill, formerly called Rumi Tiana( stone seat) in Quechua, is a strategic place to observe the city and the Cajamarca Valley. On the outskirts, there are some remains of the pre hispanic constructions such as Silla del Inca or Incas's chair, made of a block o stone that comes out from the hill and that carefully carved to give it its present look.

A chapel to Fatima Virgin appears in between stairways and gardens.

OTUZCO WINDOWS

They are located 8km . northeast of the city ( 10 minutes by car). The Otuzco necropolis is commonly knows as " ventanillas de Otuzco" because of its special design . since the square or rectangular niches were carved in volcanic rock in consecutive rows. Because of pillage, it is difficult to stablish the exact antiquity, but there is culture which had an influence in the region between the year 300 380 AD.

INCAS'S BATH

It is 6km from the city 10 minutes by car. It is hot spring water with temperatures above 72C . It has minerals that have thereapeutical properties for the treatment of bone and nerve system diseases. There are private ponds, public pools and other therapeutic services. It was originally named " Pultumarca", according to history Inca Atahualpa was resting there just before confromting Pizarro.

Cajamarca City

Cajamarca

Cajamarca