Cumbe Mayo
Cumbemayo
A pre-Inca stone-cut water channel at 3,500 meters, stretching for several kilometers. Nearby are strange rock formations known as the 'Stone Forest of Monks.'
Cumbemayo lies about 20 kilometers southwest of the city. Its core is a water channel carved into rock around 1500 BCE. The channel zigzags to slow the water and is about 9 kilometers long, making it one of the oldest man-made hydraulic engineering works in South America. The site also includes a volcanic rock forest called the 'Monks' and caves with rock art. Most visitors join a half-day tour that includes a guide and transport. The walk takes about 2 hours. The altitude is high and the sun is strong, so bring sunscreen and a jacket.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Layzón
- Cerro Santa Apolonia
- Belén Monumental Complex
- Cajamarca Cathedral (Santa Catalina)
- Plaza de Armas of Cajamarca
- Ransom Room (El Cuarto del Rescate)
- Church and Convent of San Francisco
- Baños del Inca