Cajamarca was the capital of the Caxamarca culture, which preceded the Inca but then coexisted under Inca rule until the Spanish arrived. Ask Peruvians what they think of when you say Cajamarca and they’ll reply “carnival, Atahualpa, Pedro Castillo and hats,” probably in that order.

For Peruvians, Cajamarca is most famous for its carnival celebrations. All year, the city prepares for a full week of festivities and it’s the most exciting place to experience carnival in Peru.

It is a beautiful city, though part of its history is very sad. This is where Francisco Pizarro held the Inca Atahualpa for ransom in 1533. Though the ransom room, which you should visit, was filled once with over 13,000 pounds of gold and twice with silver, Atahualpa was still assassinated.