Los Baños del Inca, Thermal district in Cajamarca Province, Peru
Los Baños del Inca is a district in Cajamarca Province with natural hot springs that reach temperatures around 79 degrees Celsius. The thermal area sits in the Andes at an elevation of about 2,667 meters and is easily accessible from Cajamarca city.
The area was known during Inca times and was used by Emperor Atahualpa before the Spanish conquest. In the early 1800s, naturalist Alexander von Humboldt documented the thermal springs in his travel accounts.
The name refers to the hot springs that have been cherished here for centuries as a place for bathing and healing. Visitors can experience how locals continue to use these natural pools as part of their daily life and wellbeing.
The thermal pools have warm water year-round and are quick to reach from Cajamarca. Visitors should bring swimwear and towels, and it is best to arrive early in the morning when crowds are smaller.
The area contains ancient rock paintings at Callaqpuma and natural stone formations called Perolitos that create small thermal pools. These geological features are remnants from before the Spanish arrived and show the long connection between people and this place.
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