"The friendship city"

Chiclayo Location:
North coast, 95 feet above sea level (29 m)

Population:
517,000 inhabitants

About Chiclayo:

Chiclayo is a part of Peru where the tropical sun, desert oases and the fresh sea breeze come together. Legend has it that the god Naylamp sailed here together with a vast retinue thousands of years ago to found his empire. In fact, many ancient civilizations saw the strategic advantage of controlling this region, which today is a major business hub in northern Peru , where routes come together from the coast, highlands and jungle. 

Chiclayo City is the capital of the department of Lambayeque, which gave rise to the pre-Hispanic cultures as Mochica, Sicán or Lambayeque and Chimú.

Chiclayo City is a skilful and economical power city from the north of the country. Located on a productive valley, where agriculture activities are very important, outstanding rice production, sugar cane and cotton. It is a strategic point in the middle of many highways and roads connections.

In its valleys flourished many important pre-Inca cultures, such as "Lambayeque or Sicán", "Mochica" and "Chimú". Part of its culture and treasures can be seen in Lambayeque at the Brüning Museum and the new Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum and Sicán National Museum .

During the Colony, it was only a simple Indian village in the road that connected Lambayeque and Zaña. Colony constructions does not exist, nevertheless today it is a city in full development process, having important discoveries as a main entrance, such as "El Señor de Sipán" (Lord of Sipán) at Huaca Rajada (important master discovered in 1987 with his in-life treasures), "Señor de Sicán" at Batangrande and Túcume. Thanks to these important discoveries, Chiclayo turns out to be the second important destiny, after Cusco , for the archaeological and monumental tourism in Peru .

The kindness and warmness of the people from Lambayeque had worth the nickname of " capital of friendship "; being very religious and having devotion to "Cruz de Chalpón", that each year celebrate a great festival that joins a lot of pilgrims in Motupe from all the country.

In Monsefú and Eten, expert craftsmen, descendents of the Mochicans (important pre-Incas culture) work with straw and fine yarn, and ceramics.

Archaeological Sites: There are hundreds of archaeological centers located in the valleys of Zaña, Lambayeque, La Leche and Motupe, where the pre-Inca cultures, Lambayeque, Sicán, Mochica and Chimú, developed until the arrival of the Incas. In these valleys jewels of gold had been found and extracted, forming the fabulous collection appreciated in local museums. Outstanding the recent discoveries of "Señor de Sipán" (Lord of Sipan) in Huaca Rajada, "Señor de Sicán" in Batangrande and the pyramids of  Túcume.

The Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum: The Royal Tombs of Sipán exhibits the most important archaeological remains of the Mochica Culture, in an exceptional exhibition that combines maximum scientific accuracy, security and enjoyment to show the jewels, emblems and ornaments found in 1987 in the tomb of a Mochica government leader called the Lord of Sipán.