WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN CHICLAYO, PERU [2021]?

Chiclayo, Peru Old Town

With a metropolitan population of almost 1,000,000 people, Chiclayo is a typical industrial coastal town. Besides a sympathetic Plaza de las armas, with a few late colonial buildings, there is not much that can attract tourists in the city itself, and Chiclayo old town is no more than the Plaza de las armas, which is not all that old.

However, the town is just a few kilometers away from one of Peru's great ancient monuments, the Royal Tumbes of the Lord of Chipan at the Huaca Rajada of Chipan monument.

The main church at the Plaza de las armas.

Plaza de las Armas.

City hall.

Central park of the city.

Royal Tumbes of the Lord of Chipan at the Huaca Rajada

The main highlight is the Huaca Rajada or Chipan, one thes fantastic pre-colonial highlights of coastal Peru, showcasing phenomenal intact grave sites of royalty.

Site Museum at the Huaca Rajada of Chipan monument.

The Huaca Rajada of Chipan is a relatively small site, but with very significant intact graves.

One of the graves as it was unearthed with replicas of the finds.

One of the main finds in the site of a grave find displayed in the museum on site.

Royal Tumbes of Chipan Museum

The findings were deemed so significant, that a special highly guarded museum has been built to keep the treasures of the Huaca Rajada of Sipán safe: the Royal Tumbes of Sipán Museum, a conspicuous modern building in Chiclayo.

The conspicuous Royal Tumbes of Sipán Museum.

The Royal Tumbes of Sipán Museum from the distance and walking up to the museum.

Another fine museum is the Bruning Museum, just north of the city with very important findings of early days, among other things, showcasing a very famous mummy.

Main entrance of the Bruning Museum.

Interior of the Bruning Museum.