Peru: Lambayeque department

Location: North of the Country.
Area: 14 213 km2
Capital: Chiclayo (29 masl)
Altitude:
Minimum: 4 masl (Pimentel)
Maximum: 3078 masl (Incahuasi)

Chiclayo

Chiclayo is a part of Peru where the tropical sun, desert oases and the fresh sea breeze come together.

Beaches of Lambayeque

Beaches of Lambayeque

History

The Royal Tombs of Sipán | Valley of the Pyramids

Tourism Lambayeque Department

From Lima, visitors can get to Trujillo overland 561 km up the North Pan-American Highway, an eight-hour trip, or take a 45-minute flight. Trujillo, capital of the department of La Libertad, is home to dozens of superb examples of colonial and republican mansions, as well as pre-Inca constructions such as the Temples of the Sun and Moon and Chan Chan, the world's largest mud-brick citadel. For those fond of water sports, the beaches near the city are superb.

From Trujillo the road heads north to Chiclayo, capital of the department of Lambayeque, a two-hour trip by road. In addition to the area's sun-drenched beaches, the city of Lambayeque also features the Brüning Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of gold pieces crafted by the Moche and Chimu, two of the ancient civilizations that dominated the area.

From Chiclayo the road climbs up into the northern highlands, a six-hour journey to the bucolic city of Cajamarca. Upon arrival, visitors are advised to rest and take precautions against high-altitude sickness. Cajamarca is filled with reminders of its ancient past: the Ransom Chamber (of Atahualpa, the Inca emperor captured by the Spaniards), the Inca Baths and the Ventanillas de Otuzco tombs, in addition to colonial churches and convents. Cajamarca nestles amidst fertile countryside where visitors can take part in farming chores alongside the local community.