Peru Travel – Some Great Places To Visit
Ca?amarca is a small city in the northern Andean highlands of Peru. Elevation is 8,900 feet (2,700 meters) above sea level. Because of its proximity to the equator, Ca?amarca enjoys a mild, dry and sunny climate and boasts lush green landscapes. Cajamarca is a deeply historical city and the main attractions today are the historical sites, including churches and the Inca Baths. These attributes make Ca?amarca an ideal addition to any Peru travel plan.
Although Ca?amarca is associated with the conquest of the Inca Empire, the city also has an extensive pre-Inca history. There are archaeological sites that pre-date the Chavin culture from over 2,000 years ago. Sites such as Cumbe Mayo, a pre-Columbian aqueduct, and Kuntur Wasi, the house of the Condor, can be visited today. Yanacocha, an active gold mine, is one of the largest gold producing mines in the world. Additional attractions are the pre-Inca burial sites at Ventanillas de Otuzco and Combaya. The Ba??os del Inca, Ca?amarca’s natural hot springs, are located 3 miles (5 km) from town.
Cajamarca became part of the Inca Empire during the era of territorial expansion achieved by Tupac Inca between 1463 and 1471. The city was well-integrated into the empire by the time Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1532. It was here that the conquerors, led by Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, who had recently defeated Huascar, his half-brother, in a civil war for control of the empire. With just 168 soldiers, Pizarro was able to trick the Inca into surrender. Seeing the conquistadors’ lust for precious metals, Atahualpa promised that he would fill a room with gold and silver as a ransom in exchange for his release. Although he managed to do this, the Spaniards reneged on their promise and kept the Inca captive, marching him to Cusco, the imperial Inca city, for the final display of defeat.
The multiple churches in Ca?amarca remain as evidence of the history of this Peruvian travel destination as one of the first conquered by the Spanish. There are 6 important churches, all built in the 16th through the 18th centuries. On the Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Church includes the Ransom Room, where Atahualpa was held captive. Another popular site is Santa Apolonia hill, which lead to the “Inca Seat” and provides great views of the city below. The annual Carnival festival in February and March is one of the liveliest in Peru.
Ca?amarca can be reached via bus or air travel. Daily flights as well as buses in various categories (economy, semi-cama, and cama) depart from Lima (16 hours) and from Trujillo (6 hours). Once in town, buses, taxis, and mototaxis are easy modes of transport.
Now on to a different city in Peru.
If you’re visiting Machu Picchu in February, or any other month during the rainy season, you should be aware of some factors that may impact your travel. The most significant change is that train travel is modified between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Throughout most of the year, travelers wishing to move between these two destinations are able to travel by train with no problem. However, during the months of January and February, heavy rains may produce landslides, both big and small, that can temporarily shut down the roads and railways between Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village).
Although constant maintenance work performed on the tracks during the period of rains, landslides are never fully preventable. Small landslides may cause delays in car and rail traffic, whereas large landslides can completely cut off access to and from Aguas Calientes.
As a precautionary measure, rail travel between Cusco and Ollantaytambo is completely eliminated, while travel between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes operates normally. Of course, this latter route is also subject to closure if heavy rains unexpectedly produce a landslide.
If you’re traveling from Cusco (or returning to Cusco), it is still possible to purchase a train ticket with the route Cusco to Aguas Calientes, or vice versa. For the going route, the difference is that instead of boarding a train in Cusco, passengers board a bus that takes the roads to Ollantaytambo. Passengers are then escorted onto the train and travel by rail to Aguas Calientes. On the return route, passengers travel by rail from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, and then board a bus for the final leg to Cusco. In Cusco, buses arrive to and depart from the train station in Wanchaq, which is about 5 minutes by car from the Plaza de Armas.
If you have purchased your train tickets and Machu Picchu entry tickets from a travel agency, the agency will usually arrange transport from your hotel to the train station in Cusco to catch the bus to Ollantaytambo. They also arrange the reverse trip upon your return.
If you have purchased your tickets independently, you will most likely have to arrange your own transportation to and from the train station. Taxi drivers are familiar with the Wanchaq train station and there are usually taxis waiting outside the train station when the buses arrive from Ollantaytambo.
For travel to and from Machu Picchu with the final destination in Ollantaytambo, travelers need not to worry about the bus. You or your travel agency will arrange transport from here to other points in the Sacred Valley or back to Cusco.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
Recent Comments