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It would help you to know some basic facts about Cajamarca before planning your trip to the city. Some Basic Facts about Cajamarca are given below.
Fast Facts about Cajamarca:
- Full Name of the city: Cajamarca
- Total Area: 2,980 sq km
- Total Population: 135,000
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5
- Languages Spoken: Quechua (official), Spanish (official) and Aymara (other)
- Currency: Nuevo Sol (S/)
- Peak Tourist Season: June to August
Basic Facts about Cajamarca: History of Cajamarca
According to historical records, Cajamarca is the place where the Inca Atahualpa was resting with his 60,000 warriors, nearby a hot spring, when the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro asked to meet with him. On receiving the invitation, Inca Atahualpa agreed to meet the white newcomer in the main square of Cajamarca and stationed most of his troops outside the square, taking only 6,000 of them with him to the square.
Even though Pizarro had only 200 men, they were well trained in horseback fighting and used cannons to overpower Inca Atahualpa’s men. Thus, in 1532, Pizarro was able to capture the king of the Inca Empire with only 200 men. Thereafter, Atahualpa was imprisoned and later executed when he was caught trying to plan his escape. After his execution, Pizarro installed Atahualpa’s younger brother as a puppet leader of Cajamarca. There was no looking back after that. Peru became a Spanish colony, and remained so until its liberation in 1824 by Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin.
Basic Facts about Cajamarca: Places to stay in Cajamarca
At Cajamarca, you can stay in a number of hotels that have been made by converting old colonial buildings. For tourists traveling on a shoestring budget, Cajamarca offers a wide choice of cheap hostels, especially near the Mercado Central on Amazonas and Apurímac. There are some affordable hostels located near the bus offices as well. Those looking for a quiet place to stay in during their Cajamarca trip can put up in the hotels located in the peaceful Baños del Inca area of the city.
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