Department of Cajamarca

Cajamarca is one of the departments of Peru. It is found in the northern part of the country and touches the border with Ecuador. The area is managed by a regional government.

The main city, called Cajamarca, sits high in the Andes Mountain Range, about 2,700 metres above sea level. This mountain range is the longest in the world. Some land in Cajamarca also includes part of the Amazon rainforest, which is the largest rainforest on Earth.

History

The oldest known irrigation canals in the Americas are found in the Nanchoc District of Cajamarca Department. Canals in the Zaña Valley have been dated to around 3400 BCE, and might even go back to 4700 BCE.

Later, from the 6th to the 10th century, the people of the Wari culture ruled earlier cultures in the highlands and set up their administrative center at Wiraquchapampa. In the 15th century, the Incas conquered the area and made Cajamarca their regional capital. They created a new province there in 1465 as a base for further expansion. When the Spanish arrived during their conquest of Peru, Cajamarca was already one of the oldest cities in South America.

Political division

The Department of Cajamarca is divided into 13 provinces. These provinces are:

1. Cajabamba (Cajabamba)
2. Cajamarca (Cajamarca)
3. Celendín (Celendín)
4. Chota (Chota)
5. Contumazá (Contumazá)
6. Cutervo (Cutervo)
7. Hualgayoc (Bambamarca)
8. Jaén (Jaén)
9. San Ignacio (San Ignacio)
10. San Marcos (San Marcos)
11. San Miguel (San Miguel de Pallaques)
12. San Pablo (San Pablo)
13. Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz de Succhubamba)

Places of interest

There are some special places to visit in the Department of Cajamarca. Two of these are the Bosques Nublados de Udima Wildlife Refuge and the Chancaybaños Reserved Zone.

Notable people

Cajamarca has been home to many well-known people. Maxima Acuña won the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize for her work. Yma Sumac was a famous singer in the 1950s, known for her unique voice. Pedro Castillo served as President of Peru from 2021 to 2022. José María Balcázar has been President of Peru since 2026.