Chiclayo, Peru Travel Guide
Our Chiclayo, Peru travel guide includes tips on the best things to do in the city and how to visit Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum independently, top attractions, day trips, tours, safety advice, how to get, where to stay and how to get around.
Chiclayo in northern Peru will not win the prize for the most beautiful city anytime soon. Still, for many backpackers traveling around South America, it is the first destination they visit in Peru when arriving from Ecuador.
So it is worth knowing how to spend a day or two in Chiclayo so you can see the best attractions this area has to offer.
We cannot even express how excited we were to cross borders from Ecuador to Peru. It does not mean we did not enjoy our time in Ecuador, rather the contrary.
We absolutely adored the small South American country and its rough landscape, colonial cities, volcano craters, and of course, the magical Galapagos Islands. But we simply could not hide anymore how thrilled we were to see the land of Incas finally, ancient ruins shrouded in mist high in the mountains, deep canyons, and crystal clear lakes.
As we were crossing the borders from Cuenca in Ecuador, we decided that our first destination will be Chiclayo, a city we had never heard of before. But our math was simple.
We did not want to travel to the coast to Mancora as it was not exactly the season at the moment, Trujillo seemed to be quite far away, and we knew that more than twelve hours on the bus between Cuenca and Chiclayo would be enough.
And last but not least, the next destination on our Peru itinerary was Chachapoyas that was accessible by a direct bus from Chiclayo.
CHICLAYO, PERU
When we were getting nearer to Chiclayo, we quickly realized this part of Peru would probably not be like we imagined. Ditches along the road were full of garbage, strayed dogs were running around as anywhere else in South America, and everything seemed to be covered with dust.
We do not know why, but we imagined our first moments in the country of Machu Picchu and Inca Ruins completely differently.
Later we found out that many travelers have a very similar first impression of Chiclayo, which is quite a shame because, despite its reputation, there are quite many things to see and do in the city, respectively, in its surroundings.
After the whole night spent on a bus, we decided to rest one day, taste the Peruvian cuisine (budget meals are very similar to many cuisines on the continent), sleep one night in Chiclayo, explore the best the city has to offer the next day, and take an overnight bus to Chachapoyas.
In this Chiclayo travel guide, we will share tips on what to see and do in Chiclayo in only one day, and we will also quickly cover the best things you can do and top attractions you can see in case you will decide to give the city a chance and spend here more of your precious time.
If you're pressed for time, feel free to skip Chiclayo itself as the city is not that interesting, but the sightseeing in Lambayeque Valley, together with learning more about the history and culture, was actually pretty enlightening.
BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CHICLAYO
In the morning, after a very basic breakfast, we headed to Chiclayo's Plaza de Armas, which is actually a pretty main square with several notable buildings.
After a bit of sightseeing, we many times tried to unsuccessfully withdraw money from the ATM until we finally found a bank machine that gave us more than $50.
Then, we were ready to visit the first attraction we had on our itinerary that day, Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan alias Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum.
The truth is that travelers do not visit Chiclayo because of the city itself, and even though it is worth it to base yourself here as the infrastructure is great (Chiclayo is one of the largest cities in Peru), be prepared that you will have to travel to see the top attractions.
ROYAL TOMBS OF SIPAN MUSEUM
The fascinating Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum contains original artifacts found in the tombs at Huaca Rajada, an archeological site close to Chiclayo, famous for Moche culture and especially for the tomb of Lord of Sipan.
The museum is really worth visiting. You will find here many original pieces found in Huaca Rajada archeological site, including precious necklaces, jewelry, tombs, clothes, weapons, and much more.
It is quite unfortunate that most of the informational boards are not translated to English and are strictly in Spanish.
But we did not find it somehow annoying, as the objects alone were wonderful, and we used a mobile app when we felt we do not understand what the object was used for.
In case you are more into history, it is possible to take a Royal Tombs Museum Tour in your preferred language.
It is not possible to take photos inside the object, and remember you will be obliged to leave your camera and phone in a locker, so in case you do not feel comfortable with this rule, leave your electronics in the hotel room.
Update 2022: One of our readers reported that photography is now allowed in the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum.
The museum is located in a city only a short drive from Chiclayo, in Lambayeque, and although you can take a taxi, it is not hard to get there by colectivo. You can catch the colectivo almost anywhere on the road between Chiclayo and Lambayeque.
You can, for example, wait on Eufemio Lora y Lora street, or near Oltursa bus terminal on the corner of Vicente de la Vega and Avenida Jose Leonardo Ortiz.
One ride by colectivo cost S/.1.25, and the entrance to the museum was S/.10.
Once we explored the museum thoroughly, we went back to the main road after approximately two hours, where we almost immediately caught a colectivo back to Chiclayo.
The driver dropped us off at different bus terminal, so we had to walk for a while along a dirty and dusty road, where we did not feel particularly safe.
As we wanted to visit Huaca Rajada archeological site and museum as well right after, we headed to Terminal Epsel on Castaneda y Parraguierre street near a large roundabout from where we took another colectivo heading to Huaca Rajada in Sipan.
One ride cost S/.3, and the entrance ticket cost S/.8 per person.
HUACA RAJADA
The ancient city of Sipan is approximately one hour's drive from Chiclayo, and you will find here the archaeological complex and museum.
We headed first to the museum, where are objects on display that had been left here, as the more important and valuable artifacts are in the Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan. Nevertheless, we quite liked the museum, and then we went to the open-air site, where we could see excavated tombs of Moche culture.
People in this period built their pyramids with adobe (there are also no rocks in this area), so most of the structures have been destroyed or severely damaged by the rough weather during the centuries.
The Moche culture was powerful in today's Peru between 50 - 700 AD, so it was fascinating to understand another pre-Inca civilization better and see what was left.
After we walked around the complex, we went back to the road, where we waited approximately 15 minutes for the colectivo, which took us back to Chiclayo.
We quickly went to a hotel, picked up our luggage, and continued to a bus terminal as we had booked an overnight bus to Chachapoyas.
In case you are not sure you would be able to visit both sites in one day independently (although it is totally doable, you have to navigate yourself around the city), there is an option to take a Huaca Rajada and Royal Tombs of Sipan Tour combining both sites and one additional archaeological complex.
2 DAYS IN CHICLAYO
If you have decided to stay in Chiclayo only for a day, you probably won't have enough time to explore everything this destination has to offer. We also believe that a full day is enough for Chiclayo.
However, if you travel long term or just have some extra time to kill and looking for more activities and things to do in the city, here are a few more tips on what to do in Chiclayo.
PLAYA PIMENTEL
Only a short drive by colectivo from Chiclayo is a pretty beach, Playa Pimentel. In case you want to relax, there is even an option to stay there so you won't need to travel back to the city. The beach is quite crowded during the summer.
MERCADO DE BRUJOS
Chiclayo's witches market is a place where you can see and buy quite unbelievable stuff. It is really worth having a look, especially if you've never been to the witches' market before. In case you are looking for a regular market with clothes, go to Mercado Modelo.
PASEOS
In case you have more time to spend in the city, head to two worthwhile paseos alias streets - Paseo Yortuque and Paseo de las Musas. Both are scenic passageways with several statues along the path.
TUCUME
If you do not have enough archaeological sites, another interesting place you can visit from Chiclayo is Tucume, another pre-Hispanic site in the area.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHICLAYO
Although Chiclayo is not the most beautiful city in Peru, it still has quite many interesting things to see and do, and you can easily spend here one or two nights.
Thankfully, it is possible to find quite a good selection of hotels in Chiclayo for every type of traveler.
As the city is not the safest place in the world, it is better to stay close to the bus terminal, which is within walking distance to the city center and it is better to avoid suburbs this time.
We've handpicked the three best hotels for every budget category.
Budget | Hostal Florida - Cheap but spotlessly clean hostel is close to the central plaza, you can enjoy a sun terrace and even luggage storage if like us you are leaving Chiclayo late in the evening.
Mid-range | Costa del Sol Wyndham Chiclayo - The value for the price of this hotel is great. Spacious rooms, outdoor pool, sauna, and complimentary breakfast are only a few reasons to stay here.
Luxury | Casa Andina Select Chiclayo - Very comfortable hotel, knowledgeable staff, rooms are cozy, with air-con, and guests can use a swimming pool, fitness center, and sauna.
BEST TIME TO VISIT CHICLAYO
Chiclayo is a destination that can be visited all-year-round. The city lies on the Peruvian coastline in the desert zone, so temperatures throughout the year are pretty high.
The climate is a bit cooler in the winter, between May and October, but temperatures rise in the other half of the year, so be prepared you'll be sweating a lot.
It sometimes rains, although not much; you can expect showers between January and April. These occasional rains can actually be pretty unpleasant because they can cause flooding because there's almost no greenery where the water could soak in.
WHAT TO PACK
What to pack for visiting Chiclayo depends on what you plan on doing in the area. You can visit the museum and ruins which were quite dusty as the rest of the city, but you can even decide to travel to the coast and enjoy swimming in the sea.
We've chosen several essential things you should remember to pack for spending the time in Chiclayo.
The area around Chiclayo and the city itself does not have the best reputation when it comes to safety, so having a travel pouch is a great way to keep your valuables safe.
The dust is pretty annoying, so have a multifunctional bandana, same as sunglasses.
When exploring the ruins in the middle of the day, there's nowhere to hide; make sure you also have sunscreen, lip balm, and a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated (you can consider SteriPen in order to lower your plastic footprint).
For day trips, we found this ultralight packable daypack essential. You do not need a large daypack that attracts attention; bring along a small, foldable backpack.
If you need a few days on the beach, pack a swimsuit. And even when you do not have traveling to the beach on your itinerary, many hotels in Chiclayo have an outdoor swimming pool.
SAFETY IN CHICLAYO
Chiclayo is not the safest city in Peru for sure. Keep an eye on your valuables all the time, and try not to wander off too far from the main streets.
It is not advised to flag down a taxi on the street; rather, ask a receptionist in your hotel to call you one. Some areas are considered dangerous for travelers, and even when the hostels in the suburbs are cheaper, it is worth it to stay closer to the center and pay a little bit more.
Do not show off your valuables. Once when we were searching for directions on the phone, a lady approached us saying we should not hold the phone publicly as we will be an easy target for pickpockets.
That's being said, we walked around Chiclayo freely without any issues, we even traveled by colectivos to the top attractions and did not experience any problems, but if you do not feel confident, take a taxi instead.
We've written a detailed post on Staying Safe When Traveling in South America, so check it out and stay safe!
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW TO GET AROUND CHICLAYO
The best things to see and do in Chiclayo are actually located outside the city center, which means this time we had to mix walking with using public transport.
That's being said; we were always able to walk from our hotel to a bus station. It is necessary to know that every destination, even almost every company, has its own bus terminal, so it is important to check first from where your bus leaves.
Colectivos are frequent, and although the small bus terminals often look sketchy, they'll save you a lot of money as tours are quite expensive.
HOW TO GET TO CHICLAYO
Chiclayo is well-connected with other destinations in Peru, such as Trujillo, Chachapoyas, Mancora, or the capital city of Peru, Lima.
We even arrived in Chiclayo from Cuenca in Ecuador, so you can make the city your base before crossing borders.
We found traveling in Peru by public bus quite comfortable (we usually used MovilBus or Cruz del Sur), and although the roads were not often in good conditions, buses ran on time most of the time.
As we've already mentioned, every bus company has its own bus terminal, so make sure you know where to go before your bus leaves.
Chiclayo has an airport (it is Peru's fourth-largest city), which usually serves flights to and from Lima. It takes about 11 hours to get to Lima by bus, so traveling by air is an option for all of you who travel on a strict schedule.
To get from the airport to the city center you can either take a taxi or book a private airport transfer in advance.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
