Ventanillas de Otuzco

Ventanillas de Otuzco is a pre-Columbian burial site featuring hundreds of rectangular and square niches cut into volcanic rock at 2,650 meters elevation. The openings are arranged in regular patterns across the rock face, creating a distinctive honeycomb-like appearance.

The site was constructed between 300 BCE and 200 CE and later served the Cajamarca culture as a burial ground from 200 to 800 CE. This period marks when ritualized burial practices became established in the local tradition.

The niches played a central role in burial rituals where the deceased were moved from ground burials to these rock chambers in stages. This practice reveals how the community honored and remembered those who had passed.

The site sits about 8 kilometers from Cajamarca city center and offers regular guided tours throughout the day. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow extra time due to the high elevation.

Some niches open into internal galleries that extend deep into the volcanic rock, revealing hidden chambers within. These underground passages show the effort invested in creating these burial systems.