Cajamarca Department · Peru
Cajamarca travel guide
Cajamarca is a city in Cajamarca Department, Peru, home to about 201,000 people.
- Best months
- January and May to November
- Nearest airport
- CJA4 km · Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport
- Currency
- PENNuevo sol
- Time zone
- America/Lima
- Language
- Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
About
About Cajamarca
Cajamarca, also known by the Quechua name, Kashamarka, is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Peru at approximately 2,750 m (8,900 ft) above sea level in the valley of the Mashcon river.
It is approximately 2,700 m 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. Yanacocha is considered to be the world's second largest gold producing mine, one of several active mining sites in surrounding areas. Most of all, Peruvians remember it as the place where the Inca Empire came to an end, because of the historic Battle of Cajamarca, along with the capture and execution of Inca emperor Atahualpa. Because of the high altitude, precautions should be taken.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Cajamarca
See
- Church San Francisco de Asis
- Museum San Francisco
- Museum Belen
- Church La Recoleta
- Viewpoint Santa Apolonia
- Ransom Room
- Cathedral of Cajamarca
- Ventanillas de Combayo
- Llacanora
- Kuntur Wasi
- The Inca's Baths
- Cumbe Mayo
Do
- Granja Porcón
- Skate Park
- Carnaval de Cajamarca
- Feria de Todos los Santos
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Cajamarca to stay in
There are many inexpensive options for accommodations in Cajamarca. In addition to the various hotels and hostels in town, there are also a number of spa hotels in the outskirts of town.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Cajamarca
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cajamarca are January and May to November. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; March is the wettest, with about 180 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Cajamarca: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport (CJA), about 3.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (TRU, 122 km) and Chachapoyas Airport (CHH, 129 km) are also within reach.
CJA · Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport
TRU · Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport
CHH · Chachapoyas Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Cajamarca
Eat
The diet here consists largely of items in cream sauce, probably due to the large dairy industry. Several restaurants serve Cuy (guinea pig) for those feeling adventurous. Street vendors sell tamales and various other street food, especially around dinner time.
Stay safe
Traffic is probably the visitor's biggest risk. Most drivers assume that you will get out of their way. Driving the wrong way on a one-way street is not uncommon, but stopping at stop signs is. So, look around before you cross the street! Remember to take it easy on arrival, since the altitude can make you short of breath and cause headaches. The central city is fairly safe, but as always keep an eye out for pickpockets and always hang on to your belongings. That being said, tourists should avoid traveling away from the city centre after dark.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Cajamarca: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Cajamarca?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cajamarca are January and May to November. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; March is the wettest, with about 180 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Cajamarca?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport (CJA), about 3.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (TRU, 122 km) and Chachapoyas Airport (CHH, 129 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Cajamarca?
Nuevo sol (PEN).
Nearby
Destinations near Cajamarca
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.