Peru: Destinations : Sierra

Cumbemayo

Located at the foothills of Mt. Cumbe, 3,400 meters (11,152 ft) above sea level and 20 kilometers (12.5 mi) from Cajamarca you will find the most important archaeological site in the Peruvian Sierra: Cumbemayo. The first attraction is the ceremonial hydraulic complex - of the same name- standing 3,510 meters (11,512 ft) above sea level.
This open canal was cut into the rocks and finally decorated with mysterious petroglyphs. The hydraulic system demonstrates a sequence of historical developments within the culture that started before the Chavin diffusion and until the conquering by the Incas. The area is characterized by a climate with a dry season lasting from May to October, most days being sunny and hot, and a more rainy climate between December and March. Additionally, in the zone you can find the famous rock or "frailones" (impressive geologic formations) forests, the sanctuary, and the aqueduct, one of the most significant demonstrations of hydraulic engineering in Pre Columbian America.

The aqueduct is a hydraulic system that transports and channels water, functioning in volcanic rock that occupies an area of approximately 3 square kilometers (1.8 sq mi), demonstrating the vast knowledge that the ancient Peruvians possessed regarding this technique. The Sanctuary consists of a jagged rock 20 m (66 ft) high, in the shape of a human head, in which the mouth consists of a grotto 3.5 meters (13 feet) in diameter and whose walls are covered with etchings of an unknown nature. Supposedly, the grotto was used as the sarcophagus of an important person. In addition, within the stone caves you will also find the "Frailones", amazing natural geologic formations. To be in Cumbemayo is a great opportunity to visit the Ventanillas de Otuzco (Small windows of Otuzco), that includes hundreds of crypts carved into volcanic rock situated on the highest part of the hills and the Kuntur Wasi, a pre-Incan archaeological site that was dedicated to the worshipping of the condor.