Cumbe Mayo

photo by Nili Larish

In the indigenous language Quechua, Cumbe Mayo means fine river, which is a quite fitting name for this ancient aqueduct. It is located about 12 miles southwest of Cajamarca, and stretches on for nearly five miles. It is believed that it was build around 1500 B.C. Its function seems to be for aesthetic and religious reasons, rather than to provide irrigation. It is said that it is meant to make people recognize the natural rock formations in the area, which mimic a stone forest, by allowing them to meditate on the movement of the water. Trips to this site can be organized in Cajamarca, you can either take a bus to the site or take part in an organized tour.

Location:
Cajamarca , Peru

Ruin

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Reviews

Traveler Reviews of Cumbe Mayo

Fascinating

An interesting half day trip from Cajamarca is Cumbe Mayo. The trip can be combined with a pretty hike through rock formations that look like turtles, iguanas and people kissing... although some of these are a bit hard to see. The aqueducts themselves are very interesting.

Paula Newton from London, UK on Jan 23, 2008