Northern Peru is packed with unique treasures – cultural, archeological and natural. Blessed with fewer tourists and better coastal weather than either Lima or the south (particularly in the high season – May to September), the area encompasses city oases along the coast, secluded villages in the Andes – where you may well be the first foreigner to pass through for years – and is brimming over with imposing and important pre-Inca sites, some of them only discovered in the last decade or two. For many, the biggest attraction will be the beautiful and trendy beaches. For others, it’s the scenery, archeology, and the opportunity to get off the beaten tourist trail.
Trujillo is located on the seaward edge of the vast desert plain at the mouth of the Moche Valley. Its attraction lies mainly in its nearby ruins – notably Chan Chan and the huge, sacred pyramids of the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna – but also partly in the city itself, and some excellent, laidback outlying beach communities. Huanchaco, only 12km from Trujillo, is a good case in point, essentially a fishing village and a likeable resort within walking distance of sandy beaches and massive ancient ruins.
There are established bus touring routes through the Andean region above Trujillo, all of which present the option of winding through the beautifully situated mountain town of Cajamarca. It was here that Pizarro first encountered and captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa, beginning the Spanish conquest of Peru. Cajamarca is also a springboard for visiting the smaller town of Chachapoyas and the ruined citadel complex of Kuelap, arguably the single most overwhelming pre-Columbian site in Peru. Beyond, there are possible routes down to Amazon headwaters and the jungle towns of Tarapoto and even Iquitos – long and arduous journeys.
The coastal strip north of Trujillo, up to Tumbes by the Ecuadorian border, is for the most part a seemingly endless desert plain, interrupted by isolated villages and new squatter settlements, but only two substantial towns, Chiclayo and Piura. Newly discovered archeological sites around Chiclayo possess some of the coast’s most important temple ruins, pyramids and nobles’ tombs, the latter containing a wealth of precious-metal ceremonial items, and there are some excellent regional museums such as the Museo de las Tumbas, based near Chiclayo. Northern Peru hosts a number of great beach resorts, such as Chicama and the warm seas of the hottest surf and beach scene in Peru at Máncora, located between Cabo Blanco and the border with Ecuador.
Tailor-made travel itineraries for Peru, created by local experts
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8 days / from2429 USD
Peru: into the Incan Empire
Who were the Incas? What did they do? What happened to them? Discover the answers, and much more, with this unique trip into the heart of the former Inca Empire.
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8 days / from2822 USD
Female Empowerment Tour
From meditations in Miraflores over visits to craftswomen in Chincheros to gratitude rituals in the Sacred Valley. This itinerary will allow you to reconnect with your feminine energy and learn more about women's lives in Peru.
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19 days / from3510 USD
Culture, Nature and Adventure in Peru
Get to know Peru through its locals and breathtaking trails- full of history. Hop aboard a motorboat to get to know the local way of life of the Uros people, before you start the great Inca trail, where beautiful landscapes, archaeological sites and fresh air are waiting for you.
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8 days / from1885 USD
The Inca Empire and the Nazca Culture
Peru has a rich history and culture, this itinerary will give you a taste of just how special it is. Take a flight over the mysterious Nasca lines, head to Cusco for some brilliant archaeological sites and discover the Inca cities. This trip will leave you wanting more!
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12 days / from6970 USD
Peru - the modern, the iconic, the wild
Spend 12 days in magnificent Peru - famous Machu Picchu, legendary Titicaca Lake and the wild Amazon await. This tour is great for foodies with amazing Peruvian delights, for history and culture lovers in the Sacred Valleys as well as wildlife enthusiasts in the Amazon. Something for everyone!
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14 days / from6565 USD
Best of Peru & Galapagos Islands
Split your South America trip into two fascinating countries: Peru with Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, as well as ocean-facing capital Lima. Afterwards, proceed to the Galapagos Islands. You will stay on 3 different islands and explore many more.
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11 days / from9192 USD
Best Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands Tour Package
Explore a trio of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour package! Your journey begins in Quito, home to the Middle of the World. Afterward, fly on over to the Galapagos Islands the best biodiversity hotspot and following with the sublime Machu Picchu in Peru.
view tour ⤍![Peru Express](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1461746601950/shutterstock-168497345_listing_1461746613028.jpeg)
7 days / from1640 USD
Peru Express
Soak up some Peruvian culture on a whirlwind tour of Peru. See the capital Lima, pretty Cusco and the Sacred Valley before you acclimatise to the high altitude of Machu Picchu, the greatest mountain city on earth and the gateway to the Incan Empire.
view tour ⤍![Culinary Peru](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1480080533533/shutterstock-215385394_listing_1504105234504.jpeg)
8 days / from2445 USD
Culinary Peru
Discover the taste of Peru on this unique culinary trip. Starting in Lima, and then travelling on to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and later Cusco, this trip includes all the essential destinations, and adds a unique culinary dimension to each, giving a real flavour of the country.
view tour ⤍![Peruvian Inca Domains](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1610476819389/colca-canyon-3429730_listing_1610476836817.jpeg)
13 days / from2419 USD
Peruvian Inca Domains
Ideal for everyone wanting to explore the Inca history and combine it with today's culture and traditions. Fly over the mysterious Nasca lines, visit the penguins on Ballestas islands, sail the Titicaca Lake and discover the stunning Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu.
view tour ⤍![Peru for Nature Lovers](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1480345633080/shutterstock-53892601-_listing_1480345637410.jpeg)
11 days / from3050 USD
Peru for Nature Lovers
Peru is considered one of the most ecologically diverse countries on earth: 84 of the 103 ecosystems and almost 90% of the world’s recognised climates can be found within the country’s borders. Needless to say, Peru has a lot to offer nature lovers.
view tour ⤍![Galapagos Cruise and Scuba Diving Adventure](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1683917207685/Yacht-La-Pinta-Bridge-1_listing_1683917213117.jpeg)
10 days / from7018 USD
Galapagos Cruise and Scuba Diving Adventure
The Galapagos Islands rank as one of the world’s top dive sites, famous for its incredible underwater wonders, and huge quantities of marine life. This package offers a full-day SCUBA diving tour for guests that wish to experience the impressive diving in Galapagos, all in a safe and fun environment
view tour ⤍![Essential Peru](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1598035922081/machu-picchu-1569324_listing_1598035956868.jpeg)
14 days / from4697 USD
Essential Peru
Get to know the best of Peru with this 14-day trip. Explore the cultural and culinary parts of Lima, get to know more about the Andean textile industry, discover Machu Picchu and if that's not enough you will also travel along the most beautiful routes in the world aboard the Titicaca train.
view tour ⤍![Witness the Sun Ceremony Inti Raymi in 2024](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1666007722964/shutterstock-477130255_listing_1666007748281.jpeg)
7 days / from1750 USD
Witness the Sun Ceremony Inti Raymi in 2024
Celebrate the spectacular Sun Ceremony in Peru in 2024. This trip starts on the 24th of June 2024 to be able to witness the ceremony. Extensions and pre-programs are readily available.
view tour ⤍![The Andes to the Amazon: Peru Explored](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1451984861614/shutterstock-52988287_listing_1451984874154.jpeg)
14 days / from4396 USD
The Andes to the Amazon: Peru Explored
Peru has much to offer and excites the most intrepid of travellers, from vibrant cities brimming with history, art and culture to the lofty mountainous heights of Machu Picchu and the Andes. A foray into the steamy Amazonian jungle completes your Peruvian adventure.
view tour ⤍![The Enigmatic Sites of Peru](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1683459998628/machu-picchu-peru-shutterstock-1044047035_listing_1683460045739.jpeg)
8 days / from2250 USD
The Enigmatic Sites of Peru
Explore the stunning sights of Peru. From the enigmatic Nazca Lines to the historical monuments of Cusco, this trip has it all. Visit the impressive Machu Picchu, a world heritage site, and hike up the magnificent Rainbow Mountain for breathtaking views.
view tour ⤍![The Best of the Mashpi Rainforest and Galapagos](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1683825156851/Yacht-La-Pinta-1_listing_1683825161372.jpeg)
10 days / from7795 USD
The Best of the Mashpi Rainforest and Galapagos
Begin this journey in one of the first cities to be given the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site – Quito, Ecuador! Afterward, just a few hours away, you’ll head down into the lush cloud forests that surround Quito to experience Mashpi Lodge. You’ll finish this journey with the the Galapagos Islands
view tour ⤍![Machu Picchu, Titicaca & Uyuni](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1654458547864/lake-titicaca-699342_listing_1654458558922.jpeg)
11 days / from2980 USD
Machu Picchu, Titicaca & Uyuni
The highlights of every Peru and Bolivia trip: the fascinating ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, followed by a trip to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Afterwards, continue via La Paz to the Salar de Uyuni, the incredible salt flats.
view tour ⤍![Exploring Southern Peru](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1442493599477/39845986-traditional-village-on-floating-islands-on-lake-titicaca-in-peru-south-america_listing_1442846898186.jpeg)
15 days / from6380 USD
Exploring Southern Peru
Inca ruins and fascinating tribal customs make Peru a unique destination. Visit Machu Picchu, stay on the shores of Lake Titicaca and take in the beautiful scenery of the Peruvian Andes before you finish your journey on a cultural high note taking in Lima’s museums and colonial gems.
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10 days / from2437 USD
A hidden gem in Peru
Discover the wonders of Peru, with this less crowded route to the North of the country where you will enjoy rarely visited destinations. Archaeological remains will tell you more about its amazing history, and you will remain impressed with its vast nature and beautiful landscapes.
view tour ⤍![Coast, Mountain Ranges and the Amazon Rainforest](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1614448112662/waterfall-384663-1920_listing_1614448169294.jpeg)
9 days / from1995 USD
Coast, Mountain Ranges and the Amazon Rainforest
Discover Peru, it's history, nature and culture. You will start in the captivating city of Lima, from where you will make your way to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu only to end in the Peruvian jungle....where you can find lakes, nature trails and stunning views.
view tour ⤍![Wonders of Peru and Bolivia](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1654455846520/sillustani-3416835_listing_1654455856782.jpeg)
10 days / from2287 USD
Wonders of Peru and Bolivia
Start your trip by exploring Lima before heading out to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Spend a few days exploring these wonders before heading off to Lake Titicaca. Just a short hop across the border lies Bolivia with the de facto capital La Paz, ready to be explored.
view tour ⤍![Hiking Adventures in the Sacred Valley](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1694674043245/peter-conlan-LEgwEaBVGMo-unsplash_listing_1694674056904.jpeg)
16 days / from4665 USD
Hiking Adventures in the Sacred Valley
A unique adventure including a challenging hike to the legendary Machu Picchu. Witness the mesmerizing Rainbow Mountain on a private tour, soar above the enigmatic Nazca Lines, and embrace the thrill of sandboarding amidst the dunes of Huacachina. Breathtaking landscapes and cultural treasures await
view tour ⤍![Active Machu Picchu](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1697617247523/machu-picchu-peru-shutterstock-1044047035-a66ac3ba1f_listing_1697617256865.jpeg)
4 days / from950 USD
Active Machu Picchu
An unforgettable adventure from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Sleep in community houses and local accommodations to immerse yourself in the rich culture. Feel the thrill as you mountain bike through rugged terrains, soar through the air on exhilarating ziplines, and hike amidst breathtaking landscapes.
view tour ⤍![The "new" Machu Picchu - Chachapoyas](https://d1bv4heaa2n05k.cloudfront.net/user-images/1698045220866/jessica-knowlden-WVC6iAZHP0k-unsplash_listing_1698045251032.jpeg)
5 days / from995 USD
The "new" Machu Picchu - Chachapoyas
An incredible journey to Chachapoyas, Peru's hidden gem. Explore the ruins of Kuelap, an ancient fortress shrouded in mystery. Discover the breathtaking Gocta Waterfalls, one of the tallest in the world. Immerse yourself in Chachapoyas' rich culture, scenic landscapes, and archaeological wonders.
view tour ⤍Around Cajamarca
Within a short distance of Cajamarca are several attractions that can easily be visited on a day-trip from the city. The closest is the Cerro Santa Apolonia, with its pre-Inca carved rocks, though these are not nearly as spectacular as the impressive aqueduct at Cumbe Mayo, or the ancient temple at Kuntur Huasi. However, the most popular trip from Cajamarca is to the steaming-hot thermal baths of Baños del Inca, just 5km from the city centre. A four-kilometre walk from Cajamarca lies the small village of Aylambo, known for its ceramics workshops, where you can try your hand at making your own pots.
Peru's Northern Desert
The northern desert remains one of the least-visited areas of Peru, mainly because of its distance from Lima and Cusco, the traditional hubs of Peru’s tourist trail, but it is still an invaluable destination for its distinctive landscape, wildlife, archeology and history.
Northern Peru has some excellent museums, besides the breathtaking coastal beauty of its desert environment, which itself contains the largest dry forest in the Americas, almost entirely consisting of algarrobo (carob) trees. The main cities of Chiclayo and Piura (the first Spanish settlement in Peru) are lively commercial centres, serving not only the desert coast but large areas of the Andes as well. If, like a lot of travellers, you decide to bus straight through from Trujillo to the Ecuadorian border beyond Tumbes (or vice versa) in a single journey, you’ll be missing out on some unique attractions.
The coastal resorts, such as the very trendy Máncora and Punta Sal, but also Cabo Blanco and, further south La Pimentel, the beach serving Chiclayo’s population, are among the best reasons for stopping: though small, they usually have at least basic facilities for travellers, and, most importantly, the ocean is warmer here than anywhere else in the country. The real jewels of the region, however, are the archeological remains, particularly the Valley of the Pyramids at Túcume and the older pyramid complex of Batán Grande, two immense pre-Inca ceremonial centres within easy reach of Chiclayo. Equally alluring is the Temple of Sipán, where some of Peru’s finest gold and silver grave-goods were found within the last fifteen years.
Batán Grande
The site at BATÁN GRANDE, 57km northeast of Chiclayo, incorporates over twenty pre-Inca temple pyramids within one corner of what extends to the largest dry forest in the Americas, the Bosque de Pomac. There’s an interpretative centre at the main entrance, which has a small archeological museum with a scale model of the site.
Part of the beauty of this site comes from its sitting at the heart of an ancient forest, dominated by algarrobo trees, spreading out over some 13,400 hectares, a veritable oasis in the middle of the desert landscape. Over ninety percent of Peru’s ancient gold artefacts are estimated to have come from here – you’ll notice there are thousands of holes, dug over the centuries by treasure hunters. Batán Grande is also known to have developed its own copper-smelting works, which produced large quantities of flat copper plates – naipes – that were between 5 and 10cm long. These were believed to have been used and exported to Ecuador as a kind of monetary system.
Brief history
The Sicán culture arose to fill the void left by the demise of the Mochica culture around 700 AD, and were the driving force in the region from 800 to 1100 AD, based here at Batán Grande. Known to archeologists as the Initial Lambayeque Period, judging by the beauty and extent of the pyramids here, this era was clearly a flourishing one. Nevertheless, Batán Grande was abandoned in the twelfth century and the Sicán moved across the valley to Túcume, probably following a deluge of rains (El Niño) causing devastation, epidemics and a lack of faith in the power of the ruling elite. This fits neatly with the legend of the Sicán leader Naymlap’s descendants, who evidently brought this on themselves by sacrilegious behaviour. There is also some evidence that the pyramids were deliberately burnt, supporting the latter theory.
The site
The main part of the site that you visit today was mostly built between 750 and 1250 AD, and comprises the Huaca del Oro, Huaca Rodillona, Huaca Corte and the Huaca Las Ventanas, where the famous Tumi de Oro was uncovered in 1936. The tomb of El Señor de Sicán (not to be confused with the tomb of El Señor de Sipán), on the north side of the Huaca El Loro, contained a noble with two women, two children and five golden crowns; these are exhibited in the excellent museum in nearby Ferreñafe. From the top of these pyramids you can just about make out the form of the ancient ceremonial plaza on the ground below.
Bosque de Pomac
The National Sanctuary of the Pomac Forest is the largest dry forest in western South America. A kilometre or so in from the interpretative centre you’ll find the oldest algarrobo tree in the forest, the árbol milenario; over a thousand years old, its spreading, gnarled mass is still the site for pagan rituals, judging from the offerings hanging from its twisted boughs, but it’s also the focus of the Fiesta de las Cruces on May 3. In the heart of the reserve lies the Bosque de Pomac, where over forty species of bird such as mockingbirds, cardinals, burrowing owls and hummingbirds have been identified, and most visitors at least see some iguanas and lizards scuttling into the undergrowth. Rarer, but still present, are wild foxes, deer and anteaters. There’s also a mirador (viewing platform) in the heart of the forest, from where it’s possible to make out many of the larger huacas. Although there is hostel accommodation at the interpretative centre, it’s rarely available or open: you’ll have to turn up and chance it; there is a camping area outside, however. The café here, selling basic snacks, is not always functioning, so bring a picnic.
Lambayeque
The old colonial town of LAMBAYEQUE, 12km from Chiclayo city, must have been a grand place before it fell into decay last century; fortunately, it seems on the road to recovery, helped by its popular museums and vibrant Sunday markets. Buildings worth seeing here include the early eighteenth-century lglesia de San Pedro, parallel to the main square between de Mayo and 8 de Octubre, which is still holding up and is the most impressive edifice in the town, with two attractive front towers and fourteen balconies.
Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipán
The Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipán, or Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán, is an imposing concrete construction in the form of a semi-sunken or truncated pyramid, reflecting the form and style of the treasures it holds inside. This mix of modernity and indigenous pre-Columbian influence is a fantastic starting-point for exploring the archeology of the valley. You’ll need a good hour or two to see and experience all the exhibits, which include a large collection of gold, silver and copper objects from the tomb of El Señor de Sipán, including his main emblem, a staff known as El Cetro Cuchillo, found stuck to the bones of his right hand in his tomb. The tomb itself is also reproduced as one of the museum’s centrepieces down on the bottom of the three floors. The top floor mainly exhibits ceramics, while the second floor is dedicated to El Señor de Sipán’s ornaments and treasures. Background music accompanies you around the museum circuit using instruments and sounds associated with pre-Hispanic cultures of the region. A musical finale can usually be caught on the ground floor.
The Lambayeque Valley has long been renowned for turning up pre-Columbian metallurgy – particularly gold pieces from the neighbouring hill graveyard of Zacamé – and local treasure-hunters have sometimes gone so far as to use bulldozers to dig them out; but it’s the addition of the Sipán treasures that’s given the biggest boost to Lambayeque’s reputation, and the museum is now one of the finest in South America.
The Sicán culture
The Sicán culture, thought to descend from the Mochica, is associated with the Naymlap dynasty, based on a wide-reaching political confederacy emanating from the Lambayeque Valley between around 800 and 1300 AD. These people produced alloys of gold, silver and arsenic-copper in unprecedented scales in pre-Hispanic America. The name Sicán actually means “House of the Moon” in the Mochica language. Legend has it that a leader called Naymlap arrived by sea with a fleet of balsa boats, his own royal retinue and a green female stone idol. Naymlap set about building temples and palaces near the sea in the Lambayeque Valley. The region was then successfully governed by Naymlap’s twelve grandsons, until one of them was tempted by a witch to move the green stone idol. Legend has it that this provoked a month of heavy rains and flash floods, rather like the effects of El Niño today, bringing great disease and death in its wake. Indeed, glacial ice cores analyzed in the Andes above here have indicated the likelihood of a powerful El Niño current around 1100 AD.
The Sicán civilization, like the Mochica, depended on a high level of irrigation technology. The civilization also had its own copper money and sophisticated ceramics, many of which featured an image of the flying Lord of Sicán. The main thrust of the Lord of Sicán designs is a well-dressed man, possibly Naymlap himself, with small wings, a nose like a bird’s beak and, sometimes, talons rather than feet. The Sicán culture showed a marked change in its burial practices from that of the Mochica, almost certainly signifying a change in the prevalent belief in an afterlife. While the Mochica people were buried in a lying position – like the Mochica warrior in his splendid tomb at Sipán – the new Sicán style was to inter its dead in a sitting position. Excavations of Sicán sites in the last decade have also revealed such rare artefacts as 22 “tumis” (semicircular bladed ceremonial knives with an anthropomorphic figure stabbing where a handle should be).
The Sicán monetary system, the flying Lord of Sicán image and much of the culture’s religious and political infrastructures were all abandoned after the dramatic environmental disasters caused by El Niño in 1100 AD. Batán Grande, the culture’s largest and most impressive city, was partly washed away and a fabulous new centre, a massive city of over twenty adobe pyramids at Túcume, was constructed in the Leche Valley. This relatively short-lived culture was taken over by Chimu warriors from the south around 1370 AD, who absorbed the Lambayeque Valley, some of the Piura Valley area and about two-thirds of the Peruvian desert coast into their empire.
Túcume
The site of TÚCUME, also known as the Valley of the Pyramids, contains 26 adobe pyramids, many clustered around the hill of El Purgatorio (197m), also known as Cerro La Raya (after a ray fish that lives within it, according to legend), and is located some 33km north from Chiclayo. Although the ticket office closes at 4.30pm and the museum shortly after this, the site is accessible after these hours (being part of the local landscape and dissected by small paths connecting villages and homesteads), with the main sectors clearly marked by good interpretative signs.
Túcume’s modern settlement, based alongside the old Panamerican Highway, lies just a couple of kilometres west of the Valley of the Pyramids, and doesn’t have much to offer visitors except a handful of accommodation and eating options.
![High view of the pyramids of Tucume in Lambayeque - PERU © Carlos Sala Photography/Shutterstock](https://deih43ym53wif.cloudfront.net/high-view-pyramids-tucume-lambayeque-peru-shutterstock_1358349986.jpg_04b50bf8a1.jpg)
Tucume © Shutterstock
Brief history
Covering more than two hundred hectares, Túcume was occupied initially by the Sicán culture, which began building here around 1100 AD after abandoning Batán Grande. During this time, known as the Second Lambayeque Period, the focus of construction moved to Túcume where an elite controlled a complex administrative system and cleared large areas of algarrobo forest (as is still the case today in the immediate vicinity of the Valley of the Pyramids and Cerro El Purgatorio at Túcume). Reed seafaring vessels were also essential for the development of this new, powerful elite. The Sicán people were clearly expert seamen and traded along the coast as far as Ecuador, Colombia and quite probably Central America; to the east, they traded with the sierra and the jungle regions beyond. They were also expert metallurgists working with gold, silver, copper and precious stones, and their elaborate funerary masks are astonishingly vivid and beautiful.
At Túcume’s peak, in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, it was probably a focus of annual pilgrimage for a large section of the coastal population, whose Sicán leaders were high priests with great agro-astrological understanding, adept administrators, a warrior elite, and expert artisans.
It wasn’t long, however, before things changed, and around 1375 AD the Chimu invaded from the south. Within another hundred years the Inca had arrived, though they took some twenty years to conquer the Chimu, during which time it appears that Túcume played an important role in the ensuing military, magical and diplomatic intrigues. Afterwards, the Inca transported many Chimu warriors to remote outposts in the Andes, in order to maximize the Incas’ political control and minimize the chances of rebellion. By the time the Spanish arrived, just over half a century later, Túcume’s time had already passed. When the Spanish chronicler, Pedro Cieza de León, stopped by here in 1547, it was already in ruins and abandoned.
The site
Today, Túcume remains an extensive site with the labyrinthine ruins of walls and courtyards still quite visible, if slightly rain-washed by the impact of heavy El Niño weather cycles, and you can easily spend two or three hours exploring. The site has two clearly defined sectors: North is characterized by the large monumental structures; while the South has predominantly simpler structures and common graveyards. The adobe bricks utilized were loaf-shaped, each with their maker’s mark, indicating control and accounting for labour and tribute to the elite. Some of the pyramids have up to seven phases of construction, showing that building went on more or less continuously.
El Purgatorio hill
There’s a viewing point, reached by a twisting path that leads up El Purgatorio hill, from where you can get a good view of the whole city. This hill, circular and cone-shaped, at the very centre of the occupied area, was and still is considered by locals to be a sacred mountain. Access to it was restricted originally, though there is evidence of later Inca constructions, for example an altar site. It is still visited these days by the local curanderos, healing wizards who utilize shamanic techniques and the psychoactive San Pedro cactus in their weekly rituals, which researchers believe are similar to those of their ancestors and which could be one possible explanation for the name El Purgatorio (the place of the purge).
Museo di Sitio
The Museo de Sitio, at the entrance to the site, has exhibits relating to the work of Thor Heyerdahl, who found in Túcume the inspiration for his Kon Tiki expedition in 1946 when he sailed a raft built in the style of ancient Peruvian boats from Callao, near Lima, right across the Pacific Ocean to Polynesia, as he tried to prove a link between civilizations on either side of the Pacific. The museum also covers the work of archeologist Wendell Bennett, who in the late 1930s was the first person to scientifically excavate at the site. More esoterically, Túcume has a local reputation for magical power, and a section of the museum has been devoted to a display of local curanderismo. There’s also an attractive picnic area, and a ceramic workshop where they use 2500-year-old techniques. The museum was constructed to reflect the style – known as la ramada – of colonial chapels in this region, built by local indigenous craftsmen centuries ago and using much the same materials.
Túcume Viejo
Although there are no tourist facilities as such, the Túcume ruins in the village of Túcume Viejo, less than 2km from Lambayeque, make for an interesting walk. Although an ancient site, check out the crumbling colonial adobe walls and a once-painted adobe brick gateway as well as the church, all of which have an elegant and rather grandiose feel, suggesting perhaps that the early colonists were trying to compete for attention with the Valley of the Pyramids.
Tumbes
About 30km from the Ecuadorian border and 287km north of Piura, TUMBES is usually considered a mere pit-stop for overland travellers, offering decent restaurants and better money-changing options than at the Ecuadorian frontier. However, the city has a significant history and, unlike most border settlements, is a surprisingly warm and friendly place. On top of that, it’s close to many of Peru’s finest beaches and two very distinct and unique forests and protected areas: the Santuario Nacional los Manglares de Tumbes and the Zona Reservado de Tumbes. The settlement of Zorritos is strung out along the seafront and Panamerican Highway some 28km south of Tumbes; as well as a long beach, this town is the point of access to some ancient, still-working natural mud baths.
The area can get very hot and humid between December and March, while the rest of the year it offers a pleasant heat, compared with much of Peru’s southern coast. The sea is warm and while mosquitoes can be bothersome between September and January, they rarely make their presence felt on the beaches. Locals tend to be laidback and spontaneous, a trait reflected in the local traditions such as las cumananas, an expression in popular verse, often by song with a guitar. The verse is expected to be sparky, romantic, comical and even sad, but most importantly, spur of the moment and rap-like.
Brief history
Pizarro didn’t actually set foot in Tumbes when it was first discovered by the Spanish in 1527. He preferred to cast his eyes along the Inca city’s adobe walls, its carefully irrigated fields and its shining temple, from the comfort and safety of his ship. However, with the help of translators he set about learning as much as he could about Peru and the Incas during this initial contact.
The Spaniards who did go ashore made reports of such grandeur that Pizarro at first refused to believe them, sending instead the more reliable Greek cavalier, Pedro de Candia. Dubious descriptions of the temple, lined with gold and silver sheets, were confirmed by Candia, who also gave the people of Tumbes their first taste of European technological might – firing his musket to smash a wooden board to pieces. Pizarro had all the evidence he needed; he returned to Spain to obtain royal consent and support for his projected conquest.
The Tumbes people hadn’t always been controlled by the Incas. The area was originally inhabited by the Tallanes, related to coastal tribes from Ecuador who are still known for their unusual lip and nose ornaments. In 1450 they were conquered for the first time – by the Chimu. Thirteen years later came the Incas, organized by Tupac Inca, who bulldozed the locals into religious, economic and even architectural conformity in order to create their most northerly coastal terminus. A fortress, temple and sun convent were built, and the town was colonized with loyal subjects from other regions – a typical Inca ploy, which they called the mitimaes system. The valley had an efficient irrigation programme, allowing them to grow, among other things, bananas, corn and squash.
Pizarro longed to add his name to the list of Tumbes’ conquerors, yet after landing on the coast of Ecuador in 1532 with a royal warrant to conquer and convert, and despite the previous friendly contact, some of the Spanish were killed by natives as they tried to beach. Moreover, when they reached the city it was completely deserted with many buildings destroyed, and, more painfully for Pizarro, no sign of gold. It seems likely that Tumbes’ destruction prior to Pizarro’s arrival was the result of inter-tribal warfare directly related to the Inca Civil War. This, a war of succession between Atahualpa and his half-brother, the legitimate heir, Huascar, was to make Pizarro’s role as conqueror a great deal easier, and he took the town of Tumbes without a struggle.
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