This small town is a great place to try ceviche but most people come to Chiclayo to see the Lord of Sipan. It’s also a good base to explore the nearby Huaca Rajada, just under and hour inland in a green valley. At the archeological site you can see his city and a replica of his burial chamber.

The Lord of Sipan now rests in the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum about 15 minutes north of Chiclayo. The museum is open Tue–Sun 9am–5pm.

Chiclayo has a lovely little Plaza de Armas, which is also a park. It’s much greener than most central squares in Peru. It also has an interesting park named Las Musas, where you can see classical Greek and Roman statues.

Only 20 minutes west are the beach resorts at Pimentel.

Transport

You can fly directly to Chiclayo, landing at Aeropuerto Internacional José Abelardo Quiñones. If you’re driving, it’s 4 hours north of Trujillo and 3 hours south of Piura.