Ransom Room, Inca stone room in Cajamarca, Peru

The Ransom Room is a rectangular Inca stone chamber in Cajamarca measuring 11.80 m long, 7.30 m wide and 3.1 m high. Its walls are large cut blocks of pale cream and tan volcanic stone, rougher at the base and smoother above, with a narrow rectangular doorway on the left of the front wall. Only the four walls are original; the shallow roof on dark wooden beams is a modern addition.

Emperor Atahualpa remained imprisoned in this chamber during 1532, where Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro demanded gold and silver as ransom for his release. Despite delivering enormous amounts of treasure, the ruler was later executed, marking the beginning of the Inca Empire's collapse.

The room shows a red line on its walls indicating the height to which Atahualpa promised to fill the space with precious metals for his liberation. This marking reminds visitors of the futile promise that, despite being fulfilled, did not lead to the ruler's rescue.

The room stands 50 m from Cajamarca's Plaza de Armas, where Atahualpa was captured. Only the four original walls remain, since the roof is a modern addition, and a 2008 archaeological study reported deterioration of the volcanic stone. About 60,000 visitors were counted in 2004.

The room's walls carry plaques inscribed with passages from chroniclers of the conquest, and a red horizontal line marks the height Atahualpa is said to have reached with his hand. About 60,000 visitors were counted in 2004, and the building sits only 50 m from the Plaza de Armas where the Inca was seized.