Traditional Route Otuzco Windows and Hacienda La Collpa
Our Otuzco Windows tour discovers a pre-Inca necropolis carved into volcanic rock and then Hacienda La Collpa, famous for its tradition of calling the cows by name.
Ancient history and dairy tradition in the countryside
Summary
This Otuzco Windows tour travels through the Cajamarca countryside, one of the most important dairy valleys in Peru, so it combines archaeology and rural traditions.
First, you visit the Windows of Otuzco, a necropolis of the Cajamarca culture made up of hundreds of burial niches carved into a wall of volcanic rock, which from a distance look like small windows.
Then you visit Hacienda La Collpa, a former dairy estate surrounded by green fields and a lake, where the curious custom of calling the cows by name, so they go to their place in the barn, is still kept. On the way, you can also taste the region’s famous cheeses and sweets. Since the Baños del Inca are in the same area, you can combine both; also, our city tour shows the historic center.
Highlights
Itinerary
09:30 - 10:00
Hotel pickup
We pick you up at your hotel in central Cajamarca before the tour.
Our team picks you up at your hotel. Then we begin the countryside tour by tourist transportation.
10:00 - 11:00
Windows of Otuzco
Necropolis carved into volcanic rock, especially impressive from a distance.
First, we visit the Windows of Otuzco, where your guide explains the burial customs of the Cajamarca culture and how the niches were carved into the rock.
11:00 - 12:00
Countryside dairy products
Tasting of cheeses and sweets while you learn how they are made.
Then we stop at an artisanal cheese dairy in the countryside to learn how cheese and manjar blanco are made and, also, taste some products.
12:00 - 14:30
Hacienda La Collpa
Dairy estate, lake and cow calling.
Later, we explore Hacienda La Collpa, with its chapel, gardens and lake. Then, in the early afternoon, you watch the traditional cow calling, as the cows go to their place when they hear their names.
14:30 - 15:15
Return to Cajamarca
Return by tourist transportation when the tour ends.
Finally, we return to Cajamarca and drop you off at your hotel or in the historic center.
Include
What does it include?
- Pickup from hotels in central Cajamarca
- Tourist transportation during the tour
- Professional guide in English or Spanish
- Entrance to the Windows of Otuzco
- Entrance to Hacienda La Collpa
- Tasting of dairy products
- Permanent assistance during the tour
What's not included?
- Lunch
- Purchases of cheeses and sweets
- Drinks
- Tips for the guide
- Travel insurance
Important information
What to bring
Comfortable layered clothing
Warm jacket
Comfortable sneakers
Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat
Water
Cash for personal expenses
Passport or identification document
Weather
Cajamarca has a mild, dry climate, with temperatures between 6 and 21 °C. Days are sunny and nights cool; however, afternoon rain is common from December to March.
Best season
The tours operate all year. From May to October dry, sunny weather prevails; also, in February the Cajamarca Carnival is held, one of the most famous in Peru.
Recommendations
The time of the cow calling may vary according to the estate’s activities. Therefore, stay quiet during the activity so as not to frighten the animals.
Gallery
FAQ
What are the Windows of Otuzco?
They are burial niches carved into volcanic rock by the Cajamarca culture, where the remains of the dead were placed, so they look like small windows.
What is the cow calling?
It is an estate tradition in which each cow goes to its place in the barn when it hears its name. Therefore, it is one of the most curious activities in the Cajamarca countryside.
Can I buy cheese during the tour?
Yes. On the Otuzco Windows tour, at the countryside cheese dairies you can buy cheeses, manjar blanco and other dairy products from the region.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The Otuzco Windows tour is one of the favorite tours for families, especially because of the visit to the estate.
Can I combine it with the Baños del Inca?
Yes. The Windows of Otuzco and the Baños del Inca are in the same area, so they can be combined.
Can I book this tour as a private service?
Yes. The tour is available as a group or private service, so you can choose the option that suits you.
You might also be interested in
