Cajamarca Department, Northern administrative region in Peru
Cajamarca Department is a first-level administrative division in northern Peru that borders Ecuador to the north and extends into the Andean highlands. The region encompasses thirteen provinces and reaches from high mountain terrain toward eastern lowland zones.
The area became part of the Inca Empire during the 15th century and witnessed the capture of Emperor Atahualpa by Spanish forces in 1532. Colonial administration shaped the region over the following centuries before it was organized as a separate department within the Peruvian republic.
The department maintains thirteen provinces where residents produce traditional dairy products, particularly cheeses, following methods passed down through multiple generations.
Travelers should prepare for changing elevations as the landscape shifts from mountain areas to lower valleys. The dry months offer easier access to roads and trails throughout the provinces.
Archaeologists discovered traces of irrigation channels in Nanchoc District dating back to 4700 BCE. This finding shows that complex farming systems were already developed in this area thousands of years before the Inca civilization.
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