South America - Part 3

After Chan Chan, we head inland and back up into the mountains. This is the Peru we like! The people are more friendly and the pollution diminishes significantly. And the Andes never cease to amaze. Our first location is Cajamarca, which is where the Inca empire was effectively ended by the Spaniards. It’s an interesting story. After years of civil war with his brother, Inca king Atahualpa, had recently taken control of the Inca empire when he agreed to meet with Spanish conquistador Pizarro in the main square of Cajamarca. Atahualpa turned up with 7,000 soldiers in largely ceremonial attire, while Pizarro turned up with less than 200 Spanish troops. Negotiations quickly deteriorated into a battle, which Pizarro won comprehensively (aided by firearms and cavalry). Thousands of Incas were killed whereas Pizarro lost only a handful of soldiers. Atahualpa was taken hostage and a ransom was negotiated. The agreed ransom was to fill the room in which Atahualpa was being held - 22 feet x 17 feet and “as high as a hand could reach” - once with gold and twice with silver. The ransom was paid, but the Spanish still killed Atahualpa and, as they say, the rest is history. Cajamarca today is a very pleasant small city, with thermal baths and you can still visit the “ransom room”.Read more