Museo de Arqueológico & Etnográfíco

Cajamarca


This small museum has exhibits of pre-Columbian pottery and stone statues, as well as displays on local costumes and clothing, domestic and agricultural implements and musical instruments. The most disturbing exhibit is the mummified remains of a baby in a ceramic vase.

The museum is housed inside the Antigua Hospital de Mujeres, just a few meters from El Complejo de Belén. Its ornate facade has a fascinating statue of a woman with four breasts – carved by local artisans, it supposedly represents an affliction (supernumerary nipples, that is) commonly found in one of the nearby towns.


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1. El Complejo de Belén

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Construction of this sprawling colonial complex, comprising a church and hospital made entirely from volcanic rock, occurred between 1627 and 1774. The…

2. El Cuarto del Rescate

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The Ransom Chamber, the only Inca building still standing in Cajamarca, is where Inca ruler Atahualpa was imprisoned. The small room has three trapezoidal…

3. Iglesia de San Francisco

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Outgunning the cathedral on Plaza de Armas is this elaborate church with striking stone carvings and decadent altars. Unlike other illustrious Cajamarca…

4. Cerro Santa Apolonia

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This garden-covered viewpoint, overlooking the city from the southwest, is a prominent Cajamarca landmark. It is easily reached by climbing the stairs at…

5. Catedral de Cajamarca

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This squat but ornate building was begun in the late 17th century and only recently finished. Like most of Cajamarca’s churches, the cathedral has no…

6. Cumbemayo

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Cumbemayo (derived from the Quechua kumpi mayo, meaning ‘well-made water channel’) is an astounding feat of pre-Inca engineering. These perfectly smooth…

7. Ventanillas de Otuzco

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This pre-Inca necropolis has scores of funerary niches built into the hillside, hence the name ventanillas (windows). Set in alluring countryside, 8km…

8. Ventanillas de Combayo

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Combayo is the largest and most impressive collection of funerary niches in the region, although its location 30km northeast of Cajamarca means it's less…