Chiclayo, Peru: All best places to visit + Where to stay

Chiclayo, in northern Peru, is famous for its rich history and remarkable archaeological sites linked to the ancient Moche, Chimú, and Lambayeque cultures.

To help you plan your visit, I’ve put together this complete guide to Chiclayo—with the best things to do, top places to visit, and must-see attractions in and around the city.

You’ll also find my hotel recommendations for every budget and practical tips on how to get to Chiclayo and move around.

So, what are the best things to do Chiclayo? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

Things to do in Chiclayo

1. Paseo de las Musas (Walk of the Muses)

We chose to visit Chiclayo with a guided tour, which included transportation by minibus and a guide. The cost was about the same as organizing the visit independently, so it was a great option.

While waiting for the last passengers, our driver took us to the Paseo de Las Musas, a pleasant surprise at the heart of the city.

This park is inspired by Greek mythology and features beautiful marble statues created by the Cajamarca artist Miguel Ángel Díaz Díaz. It’s a lovely spot for a short stroll and a few great photos!

2. National Museum of Sicán

About 30 minutes from downtown is the National Museum of Sicán, an essential stop in Chiclayo.

The building stands out for its shape, reminiscent of the ceremonial centers of the Sicán culture, and houses an interesting collection dedicated to the society and culture of the Lambayeque (the other name for the Sicán).

The most impressive part of the museum is the recreation of two tombs of nobles with their valuables (shells, gold and semiprecious stones).

• Sicán Museum: entrance fee 8 soles, the visit lasts 1h30, photos are allowed. Address: Av. Batán Grande block 9, s/n. Hours Tue-Sun 9h-5h. Road to Pítipo, Ferreñafe

3. Pyramids of Tucume

Less than 25 miles from Chiclayo, you’ll find the impressive Pyramids of Túcume—a group of 26 pyramids built starting around the year 1000.

Covering more than 540 acres, this is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites on the northern coast of Peru.

At the site museum, you can explore the history of the pyramids and learn about the Lambayeque culture through a collection of everyday artifacts.

• Museum of Tucume: entrance fee 8 soles, the visit lasts 1 hour

4. Royal Tombs Museum

The Royal Tombs Museum is also known as the Lord of Sipan Museum.

If you have little time to visit Chiclayo and you have to choose only one museum: choose this one!

It is a museum dedicated to the Mochica culture, and more specifically to their supreme ruler, the Lord of Sipan.

You can admire more than 2,000 objects of gold, silver, copper, ceramics and jewelry, found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, hidden in the Huaca Rajada, in 1987.

• Museum of Royal Tombs: entrance fee 10 soles, visit of 2 hours, you must leave your bag and camera at the entrance.

5. The Main Square (Main Park)

In the Main Square of Chiclayo you can see the Municipal Palace of Chiclayo, and the neoclassical Church of Santa Maria, which is the Cathedral of Chiclayo.

The plans for this church were designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1869, however it was not built until 1928, 5 years after the architect’s death!

6. Chaparri Ecological Reserve

Our private guide led us along the reserve’s trail, pointing out different trees and plants and explaining their medicinal uses.

But the main mission of the Chaparri Reserve is to protect the natural habitat of several endangered species, including the spectacled bear, pumas, anteaters, and numerous birds such as the condor, white-winged guan, eagles, and vultures.

We saw some animals in the wild (birds, foxes) and others that had been rescued and were being cared for in captivity (like snakes, wild pigs, and spectacled bears).

This is a fragile ecosystem, and its preservation is crucial for the whole region.

If you want, you can even spend the night at the reserve in one of the simple cabins available to visitors. On request, there’s also the possibility to take part in a shamanic ritual to connect with the spirit of the Chaparri mountain.

How to get to Chaparri

I really recommend contacting the reserve in advance so they can help you organize transportation—trust me, it will make things much easier.

Here’s how our day went:

• We first took a colectivo to Chongoyape (5 soles, about 1 hour).
• The driver dropped us off in front of a small bodega, where we had to ask for a man named “Don Casero,” who is in charge of arranging transportation and guides to the reserve.
• Unfortunately, that day, no car was available!

Luckily, the kind lady at the bodega made some calls and managed to find a solution. We jumped into a motorcycle taxi to the entrance of the reserve.

At the ticket office, we were greeted by a school bus full of cheerful children who helped us get to our destination. From there, it was another hour on a bumpy cobblestone road.

That’s why it’s essential to go with a car and an authorized guide (which is mandatory to enter anyway).

• Chaparri Reserve: entrance fee + transport + guide at 120 soles per person, 2 hour visit, located 45 miles from Chiclayo

7. The Mercado Modelo and Mercado de Brujos

Chiclayo’s Mercado Modelo is a very large market where you will find everything from toys to pots, pans, clothes, shoes and food, and of course the famous Mercado de Brujos.

Here you will find herbs, spices, bones, hair, candles, amulets and all kinds of services and ceremonies (cleansing, healing the “evil eye”, card or palm reading, etc.)

They also sell San Pedro cactus known for its hallucinogenic properties!

But don’t think that there are only witchcraft products, there are also many natural and traditional medicine products that can cure -almost- everything.

• Mercado de Brujos: Juan Cuglievan street intersection with Arica Avenue, Chiclayo

8. Pimentel Beach

As we only stayed 2 days in Chiclayo and then went directly to Huanchaco beach, we didn’t have the chance to go to Pimentel beach.

But if you want to relax in front of the sea, this beach of Chiclayo is located only 8.5 miles from downtown.

Here you can surf, windsurf, eat seafood on the beach, stroll along the pier or just rent a hammock and enjoy the sea breeze.

• Playa Pimentel: 20 minutes from Chiclayo by bus, cab 20 soles or public transportation for 1.50 soles

Staying in Chiclayo

• Hoteles Paraiso Chiclayo: The best budget option in the city center, this 3-star hotel is well located in Chiclayo, with comfortable rooms, TV, Wi-Fi, and buffet breakfast included. From just $23 for a private room with bathroom.

• Wyndham Costa del Sol Chiclayo: One of the top-rated options in Chiclayo, featuring an indoor pool, gym with sauna, rooftop terrace, and restaurant. Located just 5 minutes from the Provincial Park and the airport. From just $76 per night.

• Casa Andina Select Chiclayo: A great choice if you’re looking for more comfort. Slightly outside the center, it offers a quiet atmosphere with free Wi-Fi in common areas, outdoor pool, and spa. Rooms are air-conditioned and include a private bathroom with bathtub and minibar. From $87 per night, breakfast included.

How to Get to Chiclayo

Here are the different ways to reach Chiclayo from Lima and other cities in Peru:

Getting to Chiclayo by Plane

The quickest and easiest way to reach Chiclayo is by air. A direct flight from Lima to the Capitán FAP José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzales Airport takes just 1h45. There are also direct flights from other major cities in Peru.

To find cheap flights to Peru, I recommend using our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner. It’s the best way to get the lowest price for both international and domestic flights!

Getting to Chiclayo by Bus

• From Lima: around 10 hours, tickets range from €20 to €40 depending on the company.
• From Chachapoyas: approximately 9 hours, €15 to €20 with Movil Tours, Transportes Chiclayo, or Civa. Be sure to check schedules in advance—there are usually only 1 or 2 buses per day.
• From Trujillo: about 4 hours, €7 to €15 with Cruz del Sur or Ittsa Bus.

Getting to Chiclayo by Rental Car

Renting a car to tour the Peruvian coast and visit Chiclayo is the best option if you like to travel with freedom and flexibility.

Personally, I always use Booking.com Cars for a few key reasons:

• Easily compare prices from all major rental agencies in one place—finding the best deal has never been easier!
• Free cancellation on most bookings, so you can reserve with peace of mind.
• Better insurance coverage at a lower price than rental companies—saving you money with no extra effort.

Click the button below to find the best car rental deals in Peru:

Where to eat in Chiclayo?

• Pizzeria Venecia: it is the most famous pizzeria in Chiclayo, so I recommend you to arrive early. You can choose between 5 sizes of pizzas, but they are so big that we had to order some to take away.
• Coffee 900: I recommend the plate of spaghetti with pesto (spinach and basil) with meat and the plate of spaghetti huancaina with pork loin and a pisco sour. It was a delicious and very abundant meal.

And if you want to eat cheaply, in Chiclayo and all over Peru, you will find many restaurants with menus at 7 soles.

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