Ventanillas de Otuzco is one of the easiest archaeological sites to visit from Cajamarca, and you don’t need to join a tour to get there. I visited independently using public transport in June 2025, and it was very straightforward to get there. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to get to Ventanillas de Otuzco without a tour, how much it costs, how long the trip takes, and what to expect when you get there.
What are the Ventanillas de Otuzco?
Ventanillas de Otuzco Quick Facts
- Location: 10 km northeast of Cajamarca, Peru
- What it is: Pre-Inca funerary site with rock-cut burial niches
- Altitude: 2,850 meters (9,350 ft)
- Entrance fee: S/5 for adults (cash only)
- Opening hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Walking time: 10 min one way
- Time needed at the site: 40-60 min
- Public transport available: Yes, from Cajamarca
Ventanillas de Otuzco is an ancient burial site about 10 km from Cajamarca. It’s basically a rocky cliff covered in little square openings carved into the rock, which is where the name ventanillas, or “little windows”, comes from. The site dates back to the pre-Inca Cajamarca culture and was used as a burial site.
It’s not the kind of archaeological site with huge ruins or anything dramatic. But it’s actually pretty fascinating. There are 337 niches, some go deeper into the rock, forming small chambers and galleries.
How to Get to Ventanillas de Otuzco from Cajamarca
Getting to Ventanillas de Otuzco from Cajamarca without a tour is actually pretty easy. From the Plaza de Armas, walk about three blocks northeast to the corner of Jr. Dos de Mayo and Av. Mario Urteaga. This is where we caught a colectivo heading to Otuzco. Look for a combi with “Otuzco” on the front.
The ride took us around 20 minutes and cost S/2 per person in 2025. We got there pretty quickly, partly because our driver was driving fast. On the way back, our driver was actually racing another colectivo, which was pretty nerve-racking. So yes, the journey was cheap and easy. The driving was another story.
One important thing: Ventanillas de Otuzco isn’t the final stop, so when you approach the Ventanillas, ask the driver to stop. The entrance is right beside the road, with a sign marking the site. For the return journey, simply go back to the road and wait for a colectivo heading towards Cajamarca. Wave when you see a combi approaching. We didn’t have to wait long.
What to expect at Ventanillas de Otuzco
Ventanillas de Otuzco is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. If you can, I recommend going in the morning. Most organised tours to Otuzco leave Cajamarca around 3:30 pm, so visiting earlier gives you a better chance of having fewer people at the site, or at least avoiding the bigger groups.
Don’t expect a long hike. It’s only a short walk from the entrance up to the Ventanillas, and it took us less than 10 minutes. The site itself is fairly small, so you don’t need half a day here. Don’t expect houses or a fortress either. The “windows” carved into the rock face are actually burial niches, not doorways or dwellings.
The site was a funerary complex, used by the Cajamarca culture, and archaeologists have found human remains in some of the niches. Today, most of the niches are empty, partly because the site has been looted over the centuries.
I’d allow around half an hour or an hour if you want to take your time and enjoy the views rather than rushing through. As Ventanillas is located on a hill, you have nice views over the surrounding valley. That position wasn’t an accident. According to the information board at the site, the Cajamarca people believed that the dead buried here became protective ancestors watching over the land.
Ventanillas de Otuzco: Tour vs Independent Visit
Ventanillas de Otuzco Tour vs Independent Visit
| Independent | Organised tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | S/9 per person | S/25* + S/5 entrance fee |
| Transport | Public transport – 20-30 min ride from Cajamarca | Included: tours start from Cajamarca Plaza de Armas |
| Guide | No | Included |
| Best for | Budget travellers | First-time visitors who want convenience and more historical context from a guide |
Prices are based on our visit in June 2025 and may change over time. Transport costs are based on travelling from Cajamarca by public transport.
* There may be promotional prices for tours.
Visiting the ventanillas without a tour turns out to be a cheaper option. In total, it cost us S/9 per person, including transport and the entrance fee: S/4 for a return colectivo ride from Cajamarca and S/5 for the entrance fee. It’s probably the cheapest entrance fee we’ve come across in Peru, and this ended up being the cheapest half-day trip of our latest visit to Peru.
By comparison, organised tours from Cajamarca were selling for S/25 per person in 2025, with promotional prices sometimes available. Tours usually include transport from the Plaza de Armas and a guide, but not an entrance fee.
That said, tours still have their advantages. You won’t need to worry about arranging transport yourself, and your guide will explain the history and purpose of the niches, something you won’t get visiting on your own.
If you’re comfortable using local transport and enjoy travelling independently, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend doing Ventanillas de Otuzco without a tour.
Is Ventanillas de Otuzco Worth Visiting?
I think Ventanillas de Otuzco is worth visiting, especially if you’re spending a few days in Cajamarca and want to explore some of the area’s archaeological sites. It’s not a huge site, and you’ll need roughly 1 hour at the site, plus another hour for the return trip from Cajamarca. But the rock-cut burial niches are unusual and quite different from the larger ruins you’ll find elsewhere in Peru.
For me, the biggest plus is how easy it is to visit. The site is only about 10 km from Cajamarca, and you can get there by public transport without booking a tour. It works particularly well as part of a Cajamarca itinerary that includes several sites, such as Cumbemayo and the Cuarto del Rescate, rather than making a special trip just for Otuzco.
I wouldn’t travel all the way to Cajamarca just to see Ventanillas de Otuzco, but if you’re already there, I’d definitely add it to your itinerary. If you enjoy archaeology and want to see a different side of Cajamarca beyond the main sights in the city, it’s an easy and worthwhile trip.
Other Ventanillas Sites in Cajamarca
The ventanillas funerary tradition is strongly associated with the Cajamarca culture, and Otuzco isn’t the only site where you’ll find these rock-cut burial niches. There are similar sites around the region, including Combayo, Bellavista and Jangalá. But Ventanillas de Otuzco seems to be the best-known of these sites, which probably has a lot to do with how easy it is to reach from Cajamarca.
Ventanillas de Combayo is probably the most interesting alternative for independent travellers, as it’s around 30 km from Cajamarca and can also be reached by public transport. The other sites are less commonly visited by tourists and can require more planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can easily visit independently from Cajamarca using public transport. Getting there by colectivo is very straightforward, and the ride costs just S/2 each way.
Take a colectivo marked Otuzco from the corner of Jr. Dos de Mayo and Av. Mario Urteaga. The journey takes around 20 minutes. Ask the driver to drop you off at Ventanillas de Otuzco, as it isn’t the final stop.
The adult entrance fee is S/5 as of 2026. University students pay S/2, while children up to 17 years old pay S/1.
I’d allow around 40–60 minutes for the visit, including the walk up to the ventanillas and back to the entrance. The walk takes about 10 minutes each way, and the archaeological site itself is relatively small.
You can visit Ventanillas de Otuzco without a guide. However, having one can add valuable historical context that you might otherwise miss when visiting independently. Some visitor reviews mention local guides offering their services at the entrance, although we didn’t come across any when we visited.