RAYMI INC

Location:
It is located in northern Peru at an altitude of 2,750 meters above sea level, 856 km from Lima, the capital of Peru. It borders Ecuador to the north, the department of La Libertad to the south, Amazonas to the east, and the departments of Piura and Lambayeque to the west. It is also known as the “Flower of Cumbe” due to its proximity to the Cumbemayo hill and archaeological complex.

How to Get There from Lima:

By Plane:
There are different airlines that fly to Cajamarca, such as LATAM Airlines and JetSmart. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes, with an average ticket cost of $75.

By Bus:
The journey takes about 13 to 14 hours, depending on the bus company and road conditions, with an average ticket cost of $25.

Cajamarca Cathedral – Peru

Alameda 14 Inkas, Cajamarca – Peru.

Where to Stay:
There are plenty of options for all budgets, including 5-star hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs.

• Hotel Costa del Sol Wyndham
• Hotel El Portal del Marqués
• Hotel Cajamarca
• Hotel Sol de Belén

Tips:

• Change dollars at exchange houses (better rate).
• Avoid wearing jewelry during your stay.
• Taxis are inexpensive, with fares within the city costing approximately 5 to 10 soles.
• If you hail a taxi on the street, negotiate the price before getting in.
• Most restaurants offer a “Menu” that includes an appetizer, main course, and sometimes dessert, bread, and a drink for about 15 soles ($4 USD).
• Bring insect repellent.
• Wear a hat for sun protection.
• Bring sunscreen.
• Wear comfortable shoes.

Restaurants:

• Papikra Cajamarca
• Madre Artesana Trattoria
• Salas Restaurant
• Castope Restaurant
• Fri.to Restaurant
• El Zarco

Typical Dishes:

• Frito Cajamarquino: A traditional dish enjoyed during carnival season, featuring fried pieces of pork offal breaded with saffron, served with boiled, mashed potatoes.
• Sopa de Chochoca con Cecina: A soup made with cornmeal as the main ingredient, with beef and vegetables like celery and yellow potatoes. In some areas, eggs, cheese, and jerky are added.
• Puchero or Sancochado: Main ingredients include potatoes, cabbage, and three types of meat: pork, beef, and lamb, served with sweet potato or yucca.

• Caldo de Cabeza de Cordero: Also known as Uman Caldo, similar to sancochado, with ingredients like potatoes, yucca, celery, and lamb.
• Caldo Verde: Also called Yaku Chupe, this Andean soup is made with Cajamarca cheese, potatoes, eggs, and aromatic herbs like paico, mint, and parsley.

• Fried Guinea Pig with Spicy Potatoes: Fried until crispy and served with potatoes flavored with panca chili, peanuts, pepper, and salt, along with a criolla sauce of onion and rocoto pepper.
• Chicharrón with Mote: Fried pork seasoned with pepper and salt, crispy and golden in its own fat, served with boiled or roasted potatoes, plenty of mote (hominy), and an onion and mint salad.

• Humita: Ground corn seasoned with raisins, wrapped in corn husk or dried corn leaves. There are two types of humitas: sweet (with cheese, sugar, and raisins) and savory (with meat and vegetables).

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Puchero Cajamarquino – Perú.

Caldo Verde Cajamarquino – Perú.

Chicharrón con mote Cajamarquino – Perú.

Humitas de Cajamarca- Perú.

Typical Desserts:

• Chiclayo Sweet: Pumpkin porridge.
• Fig Sweet: Contains soluble fibers that help control cholesterol and glucose levels.
• Quesillo with Honey: A typical and traditional dessert from Cajamarca, made by mixing cane honey with soft, fresh quesillo cheese.
• Alfajores with Egg Yolk and Chancaca Honey: Made with egg yolk and anise wafer-like cookies, filled with chancaca (unrefined sugar) honey.

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Candy de higos Cajamarquino – Perú.

Cheese with honey Cajamarquino – Perú.

Dulce de Chiclayo Cajamarca- Perú.

Alfajores de yema con miel chancaca, Cajamarca- Perú.

Tours:
(We used the service of Andes Tours, located in the Plaza de Armas of Cajamarca)

1. Otuzco Ventanillas: A pre-Inca necropolis with crypts carved into rocky cliffs, resembling small windows. The crypts are rectangular or square, carved into the rock and protected by drainage channels to allow rainwater to flow.

• Pre-Inca Cemetery
• Hanging Bridge
• Hortensias Garden
• Dairy Company

2. Namora: A tourist town near the capital known for recreational, natural, and cultural activities, particularly famous for its high-quality guitar craftsmanship. It is also considered the birthplace of carnival, known for the capulí tree.

• Alameda 14 Inkas
• Zoolítica los Sapitos
• Guitar Workshop
• Namora Town and alfajores
• San Nicolás Lagoon

Pueblo Namora, Cajamarca- Perú.

Laguna San Nicolás, Cajamarca- Perú.

3. La Colpa Hacienda: A farm dedicated to raising cattle, sheep, and other animals. It’s famous for calling cows by name to be milked individually—a spectacle worth witnessing.

• World’s tallest clay chapel
• The cows’ call by name
• Yacanora Waterfall

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Hacienda La Colpa, Cajamarca- Perú

Hacienda La Colpa, Cajamarca- Perú

4. Atahualpa Jerusalem Agricultural Cooperative (“Porcón”): A recreational center offering agrotourism, camping, and adventure tourism activities like milking cows, learning to make up to 16 types of cheeses, rappelling, horseback riding, river tubing, swimming, trekking, downhill cycling, spelunking, and trout fishing.

Animal Shelter

Huambocancha Alta, stonework community

Porcón Cooperative

Porcón Farm

Porcón, Cajamarca- Perú.

Porcón, Cajamarca- Perú.

5. Los Frailones-Cumbemayo: Known as the “stone forest,” this archaeological area is located about 19 km southwest of Cajamarca, at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters. It is recognized for its ancient aqueduct, which is about 8 km long, and nearby petroglyphs and caves.

6. City Tour: A walking tour of Cajamarca’s main tourist attractions.

7. Inka Baths: Known for its thermal waters, this district is located 6 km from the city of Cajamarca.

8. City Tour (Historic Center): A walk through the historic center of Cajamarca visiting its most representative sites, such as:

• Belén (where we purchase tickets to the Ransom Room)
• Ransom Room
• Cajamarca Cathedral
• Santa Apolonia Lookout
• Plaza de Armas

Cuarto del rescate, Cajamarca- Perú

Baños del Inka, Cajamarca- Perú

Mirador Santa Apolonia, Cajamarca- Perú

We had an extraordinary few days in the city of Cajamarca, enjoying its impressive valleys, rivers, architecture, and gastronomy. It’s not a goodbye, but a see you soon. Until next time, “Flower of Cumbe.”