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Voykit pocket guide · Peru
Chota
Skip unless you are a bullfighting aficionado or visiting family: one night is enough to see the bullring and the San Juan Bautista festival (June).
Chota is a small Andean town at 2,388 m, known as the Bullfighting Capital of Northern Peru. Its main draw is the second-largest bullring in the country, El Vizcaíno, and the San Juan Bautista festival in June. Outside festival dates, the town offers little for a tourist and is best used as a brief stop between Cajamarca and the northern sierra.
- Country
- Peru
- Best months
- Jun (for the festival), May–Sep (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PEN
- Money
- Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget S/ 50–80 · Mid S/ 80–150 · High S/ 150+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.
- Emergency
- Police 105 · Fire 116 · Ambulance (SAMU) 106
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US devices need to be dual-voltage (most chargers are).
- Tipping
- Restaurants: About 10% if service is not included.; Inca Trail porters and cooks: Per the operator's guidance; pooled at the end.; Guides: S/ 20–50 per person for a day tour.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Mototaxi ride (within town) | S/ 3–5 |
| Bus from Cajamarca to Chota | S/ 20–30 |
| Simple meal (menu del día) | S/ 8–15 |
| Coffee or soft drink | S/ 3–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CJA · Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport (Cajamarca)
- Daily flights from Lima; then 3.5 h by bus or car to Chota.
Typical fares
- Cajamarca → Chota by bus
- about S/ 20–30, 3.5 h (check)
- Mototaxi within town
- S/ 3–5
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Mototaxis (motocarro) are the main public transport, cheap and cover the whole town. Rural buses and vans go to nearby villages but are infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- El Vizcaíno bullring (second largest in Peru)
- San Juan Bautista festival (June)
- Bullfighting capital of Northern Peru
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cajamarca | Bus or car via PE-3N, about 3.5 h | About 3.5 h |
| Chiclayo | Bus or car via PE-06 A and PE-3N, about 4 h | About 4 h |
| Jaén | Bus or car, about 2–3 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Basic hotels and hostels near the plaza; most budget options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto?kwahn-toh |
| Where is the bus station? | ¿Dónde está el terminal de buses?don-deh es-tah el ter-mee-nal deh boo-sehs |
| I need a mototaxi | Necesito un mototaxineh-seh-see-toh oon moh-toh-tahk-see |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Food pride: Ask about local dishes; avoid: Comparing pisco or ceviche unfavourably with Chile's
- Photos: Ask and pay if asked; avoid: Photographing people without asking
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides in protests
Scams and watch-outs
- Rainy season (Nov–Apr) can make roads muddy and travel slower.
- Bullfights during the festival may be controversial; check your comfort level.
- Altitude (2,388 m) may cause mild symptoms for some visitors.
Chota is generally safe for tourists, but petty theft can occur in crowded festival areas. Stick to main streets at night and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chota yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- El Vizcaíno bullring (second largest in Peru)
- San Juan Bautista festival (June)
- Bullfighting capital of Northern Peru
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata — Chota: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1076020
- Wikivoyage: Chota, revision 4332707 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4332707
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chota
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Lima; most other countries have embassies in Lima. Nearest consulate for some countries may be in Chiclayo or Cajamarca (check).
Carry small denominations of soles for mototaxis and market purchases.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.