Chiclayo Travel Guide
Travel to Chiclayo - In the valley of the pyramids
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Not every city is lucky enough to be within reach of more than 70 ancient Sican and Moche pyramids, but Chiclayo is. The huge sprawling city may not have much to offer itself, but is surrounded by the best museums in the country and the locations of some of the greatest archaeological finds Peru, and the world, have known. Visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum in Lambayeque and be astounded at the amount of gold recovered from no fewer than 12 royal tombs, including the headline-grabbing Lord of Sipán.
Nearby, Peru's very own valley of the pyramids is waiting to be explored – immense sites such as Tucume and Batan Grande have to be seen to be believed.
Nature lovers will be pleased by Peru's coastal dry-forests and their rare and endangered inhabitants such as Peru's famous Spectacled Bear.
Located in the south of Lambayeque, Chiclayo is now the regional capital, but it wasn't always this way. Founded as a rural settlement for the indigenous by the Spanish in 1560 it eventually outgrew neighbouring Spanish-inhabited Lambayeque Town. Now Peru's 4th largest city, it is a sprawling disorganised metropolis surrounded by some of the richest archaeological treasures, best museums and most important finds in the country.
In neighbouring Lambayeque the remains of Peru's equivalent of Tutankhamen, the Lord of Sipan, are housed in the modern Tumbas Reales museum – along with enough gold artefacts and other royal tombs accompanying them to merit the construction of this huge pyramid shaped building to display it all.
Although other excellent museums have been constructed around Chiclayo, nothing beats visiting the ancient sites themselves. In what is known as the valley of the pyramids are the ruins of Tucume, a group of truncated pyramids built by the Sican that give the area its name. Here there are no less than 26 pyramids, platforms and ceremonial centres that cover more than 200 hectares. Some distance away, the ancestral home of the Sican, descendants of the much more ancient Moche, sits in the centre of the Pomac Forest in Batan Grande. Here 34 pyramids tower over introduced Mediterranean carob trees that form a beautiful forest that can be hiked and camped in.
Chaparrí, a nature reserve less than two hours from Chiclayo, is community run and protects and reintroduces the endangered Spectacled Bear back into the wild. In its large territory there is no shortage of indigenous species that rely on the reserve's existence.
Attractions in Chiclayo
Museo Naccional Tumbas Reales de Sipan (Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum) – The newest, most expensive and most modern museum in Peru houses arguably the world's most important archaeological discovery since Tutankhamen. See more gold that you've ever seen before and behold the remains of the Moche king, the Lord of Sipan.
Tucume – They don't call this Peru's valley of the pyramids for nothing. No fewer than 26 truncated pyramids and platforms stretch out across the fertile valley. Bear witness to the glory of the Sican at this site that defies expectations.
Bosque de Pomac – The ancestral home of the Sican, descendants of the Moche, until they mysterious burnt it to the ground and moved on to construct Tucume. The Pomac Forest in Batán Grande has 34 pyramids that are waiting to be discovered among the trees of a carob forest. Hike, camp and admire the local wildlife in this huge protected expanse.
Chaparrí Reserve – Set up by the local community under the guidance of a famous Peruvian photographer, the reserve protects a huge area and a number of seriously threatened species, not least of which the famous Spectacled Bear.
Zana – Not as ancient as Peru's other ruins but equally stunning. Bare witness to the power of nature and explore the remains of an important colonial city left in ruins by a flash flood. Once on par with Lima and Trujillo, the skeletons of dozens of 16th and 17th century buildings stand in the middle of local farmer's fields.
Activities in Chiclayo
Hike and camp in the sun-baked Bosque de Pomac archaeological and ecological reserve.
Spot animals in the Chaparrí reserve and meet Peru's Spectacled Bear.
Climb the La Raya hill that sits in the centre of the Túcume complex for stunning views of the valley and its pyramids.
Relaxing
Hike undisturbed through the carob forests of Pomac, never meeting another soul.
Getting Around
All sites are under two hours travel by bus from central Chiclayo, though the area around the local bus station can be dangerous. Sites are not located along the same route and travellers must return to Chiclayo and set out again towards the next attraction.
Local buses can also be cramped and very crowded, finding organised private transport would be advisable.
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