Your stay — Aguas Calientes
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Cajamarca.
The Property — Aguas Calientes
The lobby feels like a mid-century ski lodge dropped into the Andes: dark wood beams, thick wool rugs, and a fireplace that’s always lit in winter. It’s a functional 3-star—no frills, but clean rooms with solid hot water, which matters in July. Best for independent travellers who want a bed near the plaza and don’t care about restaurants or a pool.
Chronicles of Cajamarca
Cajamarca was founded in 1532 by Spanish conquistadors at the site of an Inca bath complex, famously where Atahualpa was captured. Its colonial core retains carved stone doorways and a massive, twin-towered cathedral built over an Inca ceremonial plaza. The city’s identity today revolves around dairy—the only place in Peru that makes decent cheese—and its annual Carnival, a raucous water-and-foam street party. Mining (Yanacocha, the world’s largest gold mine) also shapes the local economy, giving it a blue-collar edge rare in Peruvian highland towns.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cajamarca guide →Best months
May–June and August: clear skies, little rain, daytime temps around 20°C. Crowds are thin after Easter but before the July school holidays hit.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak holiday season for domestic tourists—hotel prices jump 30–40% and the plaza fills with families. The week of 4–10 July sees most traffic. No festival drives this; it’s purely school vacation.
Budget shoulder season
April and November offer the best discounts (25–30% off peak rates), light rain, and near-empty ruins. Weather is still good enough for hiking, though evenings get cold.
Weather & packing
Cajamarca sits at 2,750m: days are warm but sudden hailstorms can appear in July afternoons. Pack a waterproof shell and thermal base layers—never leave without a fleece, even if it’s sunny at breakfast.
Live City Briefing — Cajamarca
- The main road from Cajamarca to the airport (CJA) is repaving until late 2026; allow an extra 20 minutes for potholes and delays.
- Carnaval de Cajamarca (February) planning is already drawing early-booking tourist numbers—hotels in the plaza are filling for 2027 dates.
- The Ventanillas de Otuzco archaeological site reopened this March after a year of restoration; entry is now 10 soles and the walkways are improved.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Aguas Calientes, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request an upper-floor room at the back of the hotel, facing away from the main street. Upper floors reduce foot-traffic noise on the stairs and corridor.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near reception or the street entrance – they catch the most street noise from passing mototaxis and early risers.
Best views
Rooms at the front may look onto the central square or main road; those at the back view nearby hillsides and are quieter.
Quietest floors
Second floor and above (if the building has 2+ floors).
🔊 Noise notes
Cajamarca's central streets are busy with mototaxis and market vendors from early morning until late evening. No lift means stairwell noise carries – upper floors help. Weekend street festivals can be loud.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on a high floor when booking by phone or email – no lift means quieter but more stairs. 2. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the hotel's central location puts you near the main square where music and celebrations happen, especially on Sundays.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Aguas Calientes
Free basic Wi-Fi (10 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up) included for all guests; no paid upgrade. Login via room number and surname; one device per room.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand; complimentary physical copy of El Comercio at reception each morning. The hotel occupies a converted 1950s townhouse; original high ceilings and courtyard remain.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available from 08:00 (free). Late check-out until 13:00 costs S/.50; after 13:00 charged half-night rate.
Free storage in locked luggage room for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage by prior arrangement only.
Step-free entrance from street level; lift to all floors; no rooms specifically adapted for wheelchairs. Narrow doorways in older wing (rooms 101–105).
On-site parking: S/.30 per night (uncovered, 8 spaces, first-come first-served). Nearest public car park: Estacionamiento El Solar, Jr. La Mar 210, S/.15 per 24h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city tax; all taxes included in rack rate)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required for standard booking; S/.200 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange at banks or cambios in central Cajamarca; avoid airport kiosks and tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels and restaurants; cash needed for small markets, taxis, and street stalls.
Round up taxis and leave 5-10% in restaurants if service is good; hotel staff appreciate small tips in cash.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee at a local café costs around S/5–7.
A menú del día (set lunch) runs S/10–15.
A main dish at a modest restaurant costs S/12–20.
Head to the Mercado Central or Plaza de Armas evenings for anticuchos, picarones, and tamales.
Metro, Plaza Vea, and Tottus are common budget supermarkets in Cajamarca.
Mercado San Martín and Real Plaza mall offer affordable clothing and gear.
Colectivos (shared minibuses) cost about S/1 per ride; from airport, a combi into town is S/2–3.
Book group tours instead of private, eat menú del día for lunch, and buy water at supermarkets rather than tourist stands.
Good to know — Cajamarca
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
Cajamarca105 or 181 for general information and tourist assistance
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cajamarca, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Aguas Calientes
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Cajamarca Bus Terminal → Hostal Caribe
💡 Buy tickets from the driver or at a kiosk
Jaen Airport (JAU) → Cajamarca Bus Terminal
💡 Buy tickets at the airport or in advance at the terminal
Jaen Airport (JAU) → Hostal Caribe
💡 Negotiate the price before you start your journey
Cajamarca Bus Terminal → Hostal Caribe
💡 Flag down the colectivo on the main street
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Aguas Calientes?
Request an upper-floor room at the back of the hotel, facing away from the main street. Upper floors reduce foot-traffic noise on the stairs and corridor.
Which rooms should I avoid at Aguas Calientes?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near reception or the street entrance – they catch the most street noise from passing mototaxis and early risers.
Is Aguas Calientes noisy?
Cajamarca's central streets are busy with mototaxis and market vendors from early morning until late evening. No lift means stairwell noise carries – upper floors help. Weekend street festivals can be loud.
Which rooms have the best views at Aguas Calientes?
Rooms at the front may look onto the central square or main road; those at the back view nearby hillsides and are quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Aguas Calientes?
1. Request a room on a high floor when booking by phone or email – no lift means quieter but more stairs. 2. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the hotel's central location puts you near the main square where music and celebrations happen, especially on Sundays.
What time is check-in at Aguas Calientes?
Check-in at Aguas Calientes is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Aguas Calientes have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (10 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up) included for all guests; no paid upgrade. Login via room number and surname; one device per room.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Aguas Calientes?
None (no separate city tax; all taxes included in rack rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Aguas Calientes?
A menú del día (set lunch) runs S/10–15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Aguas Calientes?
Colectivos (shared minibuses) cost about S/1 per ride; from airport, a combi into town is S/2–3.
When is the best time to visit Cajamarca?
May–June and August: clear skies, little rain, daytime temps around 20°C. Crowds are thin after Easter but before the July school holidays hit.
Top Attractions in Cajamarca
💡 Take a moment to appreciate the stunning stained glass windows and the intricate stone carvings.
💡 Look out for the stunning views of the surrounding Andean mountains from the top of the garden.
💡 Look out for the ornate fountains and the statue of Juan Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who founded the city.
💡 Take a taxi or bus to the waterfall and hike down to the base for a refreshing swim.
💡 Look out for the impressive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including pottery and textiles.