Chiclayo
Peru · Americas
About Chiclayo
Chiclayo is the principal city and capital of the Lambayeque region and Chiclayo Province in northern Peru. It is located 13 km (8.1 mi) from the Pacific coast, 208 km (129 mi) from the city of Trujillo, and 770 km (480 mi) from the country's capital, Lima.
The city was originally founded by Spanish Franciscan priests as "Santa María de los Valles de Chiclayo" in the 16th century, acting as a small town of passage and rest of travelers. It was declared an official city on 15 April 1835 by president Felipe Santiago Salaverry. He named Chiclayo "the Heroic City" to recognize the courage of its citizens in the fight for independence, a title it still holds. Other nicknames for Chiclayo include "The Capital of Friendship" and the "Pearl of the North", due to its kind and friendly nature of its people.
Chiclayo is Peru's fourth-largest city, after Lima, Arequipa, and Trujillo, with a population of 738,000 as of 2011. The Lambayeque region is the fourth most populous metropolitan area of Peru, with a population of 972,713 in 2009. The city is divided into three urban districts, Chiclayo, La Victoria, and José Leonardo Ortiz. The Chiclayo metropolitan area comprises 12 districts. It is the second most populous city in Northwestern Peru, after its city rival, Trujillo. The city was founded near an important prehistoric archaeological site, the Northern Wari ruins, which constitute the remains of a city from the 7th to 12th century of the Wari Empire. The city was also once part of the Moche culture, which dominated Northern Peru 100 to 700 AD. The Lord of Sipán was the ruler of the Moche and the Sipán mummies are the most popular tourist attraction of city of Lambayeque and Chiclayo, with most tourists arriving from Chiclayo. The Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum in Lambayeque houses thousands of Moche artifacts.
Chiclayo travel guide
Understand
Chiclayo is one of the liveliest cities in northern Peru. It has a population of around 609,000 (2022). It is big enough to have supermarkets and small enough to be manageable without hours spend in city buses. The plazas like Parque Principal or Plazuela Elias Aguirre buzz with life even after sunset.
Getting there
By plane 1 Aeropuerto Internacional de FAP Capitan José A. Quiñones Gonzálezo (CIX IATA), Aeropuertos del Peru, Av Fitzcarrald S/N (Av Fitzcarrald y Av Francisco Bolognesi, 300 m south of Av S Francisco Asisi (PE-6A) at the eastern edge of town.). The airport is served by:. Latam (Lima) JetSmart (Lima) Star Peru (Lima, Iquitos, Tarapoto) Copa Airlines (Panama City). The Capitan José A. Quiñones Gonzálezo Airport is at the eastern edge of town on Av Fitzcarrald, 300 m south of its intersection with Av San Francisco Asisi (PE-6A). There is a fairly universal ATM in the departure check-in area, small restaurants, and souvenir shops. The departure tax is included in your ticket fare and the taxis out in the parking are the best way into town.
By bus All the major bus lines are present in Chiclayo but most have their own terminal spread out over the city. Linea is on Av. Bolognesi 638. One block west of Linea is the Terminal for most north- or eastbound buses. Movil is around the corner opposite the Metro supermarket (LP says Av. Bolognesi 199 but it is Av. Jose Balta). Bus tickets can be purchased via Redbus App. Chiclayo has a number of bus terminals used by different companies serving different destinations:
ITTSABUS terminal is at the intersection of Av. Francisco Bolognesi and Av. Grau. TRC Express, at Av. Grau 1645. (web site), serves Cajamarca, Trujillo and Lima. Transportes Chiclayo bus company's terminal is at Av. Jose Leonardo Ortiz 010, (on Google Maps it is named "Empresa de Transportes Chiclayo S.A.") Oltursa terminal, is diagonally opposite to Transportes Chiclayo, on the same intersection Terrapuerto Plaza Norte Chiclayo, on Av. Augusto B. Leguia 2590, is used by bus companies Tepsa, Super Semeria, Ronco Peru, Bus star, Fropesa, Turismo Jaen, Transportes Cromotex, Poseidon, Rutas del Oriente, Turismo Erick el Rojo, Turismo Alysergen and Seysan. "Ormeño Terminal Terrestre Chiclayo", on Av. Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, is used by companies Cautivo, allinbus, Sajybus. Ovalo del Pescador, (Google Maps "Paradero Mórrope"), at intersection of Av. Leguia and Av. Belaunde, is where small combis serving towns of Mochumi, Illimo, Tucume, Pacora, Jayanca, Olmos and Motupe. Terminal Epsel, at intersection of Av. Pierola and Av. Quiñones, are only for combi vans which serve closer destinations like Sipan, Chongoyape, Zaña, Pomalca, Batan Grande, Ferreñafe etc. Angel Divino, bus company also serves Trujullo, Lima, Cajamarca and more
Getting around
Chiclayo is full of Tico taxis. Short journeys cost S/3. A station would be better if less easy to find to go to Sipán, Ferreñafe, Lambayeque or the beaches S/15, or Túcume S/20. Three wheeler motor rickshaw mototaxis cost half the price. "Colectivos" (or "taxi colectivos") in Peru refer to shared sedan taxis that takes 4 passengers, not the midi-bus type in some other South American countries. Combis are 8-12 seater small vans. Uber is available in Chiclayo.
See
1 Paseo Yortuque. A public recreational park featuring many statues of mythical significance to the pre-hispanic Moche and Lambayeque cultures. The walking area is lined with many trees and a canal. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Paseo de las Musas. This popular public park has many statues of Greek goddesses, the muses. (updated Jun 2026) 3 St. Mary's Cathedral. The cathedral in Neoclassical style is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiclayo. Pope Leo XIV, then known as Robert Francis Prevost, was Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and regularly celebrated mass in the cathedral. (updated Jun 2026)
Around Chiclayo A few surrounding sites can be visited from Chiclayo as a base.
4 Museo de Sitio Túcume. Archeological site with 26 pyramids built by the pre-Hispanic Peruvians. It includes a museum showcasing artifacts from the ancient Peruvians including colonial times. Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00. 32 km north of Chiclayo. To reach, take combi from Ovalo del Pescador in Chiclayo. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum. The museum is in the center of Lambayeque and definitely worth a visit although descriptions are in Spanish only. It features most of the treasures of the Sipan tombs together including a replica of the grave looked like and how it was discovered in 1989. Ticket S/10. Open Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Taxi colectivos from Chiclayo run from many places, while combis run from Terminal Epsel, cost S/3). No restrictions on photography as of 2023 Feb. (updated Jun 2026) 6 Museo de Sitio Huaca Rajada - Sipán. Funeral site of the Lord of Sipán and truncated pyramids. To reach, take combi from Terminal Epsel to the town of Sipán (cost S/ 6), then 1.7 km mototaxi from Sipán (or 21 min walk). (updated Jun 2026) 7 Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary. Combi from Terminal Epsel. (updated Jun 2026) 8 Sicán National Museum. Different from Sipan Museum. Museum with replica of Sicán tomb burial site discovered in 1987, exhibits remains of Sicán culture. It is 18 km north of Chiclayo in Ferreñafe. To reach, take combi from Chiclayo Terminal Epsel to Ferreñafe town, (cost S/ 3) then a short mototaxi from town to the museum (1.2 km, cost S/ 2, 2023 Feb prices.) (updated Jun 2026) 9 Brüning Museum, [email protected]. Founded in 1921 by Hans Heinrich Brüning, the Brüning Museum showcases the main cultures of Northern Peru, such as the Mochica and Lambayeque cultures. (updated Jun 2026)
Do
Gastronomic Tour - Chiclayo is a gastronomic heaven. Try out the many Ceviche dishes on offer. The city offers plenty of restaurants with a wide range of dishes. 1 Stadium Elías Aguirre. See a sports event. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Beach of Pimentel. Sunbathing at Pimentel Beach – Pimentel is not far from Chiclayo, located southwest of the city. Swimming is difficult due to the usually strong waves of the Pacific. (updated Jun 2026)
Buy
1 Mercado Modelo. A very big market where it is possible to buy almost anything. It is crowded and it is easy to get robbed, so be careful. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Mercado Central. Smaller than the Mercado Modelo. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Ripley. Department store in the city center. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Real Plaza. A shopping center. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Mall Aventura. A large shopping mall. (updated Jun 2026)
Eat
Budget Mi Tia's on Elias Aguirre on the corner of the town square is excellent! Very friendly staff, a good selection of food, to go orders, dine in and at night they have a burger window!
Mid-range Marakos Restaurant offers good menus. Grilled beef is one of the most popular and delicious dishes. Sorrentos - this evening-only set of diners is not to be missed: great beef empanadas, excellent French fries and top notch salad. Also great Lomo. 1 Curandero Cevichería, Calle Torres Paz 539, ☏ +51 74-431700. Great restaurant with a good selection of Ceviche specialities. (updated Jun 2026)
Splurge 2 Fiesta Gourmet Chiclayo, Av. Salaverry 1820, ☏ +51 74 201 970, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2018)
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range Casa de la Luna. Alojamiento Z, Mariscal Catilla 118, ☏ +51 74-222534. Check-in: 06:00, check-out: 13:00. Av Bolgnesi cuadra 9. Close to Cruz del Sur bus terminal. Quiet in the center of town. S/25. Curandero Cevichería, Calle Torres Paz 539, ☏ +51 74-431700. Great restaurant with fresh Ceviche specialities. (updated Jun 2026)
Splurge 1 Wyndham Costa del Sol Chiclayo, Av Balta 399, ☏ +51 74 227272. (updated Nov 2018)
Go next
Transportes Linea has hourly buses to Trujillo (3 hours) & on to Lima (11 hours). Movil Tours are good value to Chachapoyas & Tarapoto.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.