:: Andean Adventures: Bringing the world to Peru since 1985 ::
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SIPAN [LAMBAYEQUE]
Some of the finest museums on the continent and literally thousands of archaeological sites formed by the vestiges of the wealth of pre-Inca cultures that settled in this desert region combine to make northern Peru a fascinating destination often described as the "Egypt of the Americas". And for those wanting a rest from ancient cultures, the coast offers some of the best surfing in the world and the best seafood on the continent.
Lambayeque Chiclayo
In the area around present-day Lambayeque important pre-Columbian cultures established themselves, such as the Moche and the Chimú. One of the most important archaeological sites in the region is Sipan, where an ancient burial site has been discovered. The area was once part of the great Chimú kingdom, and then part of the Inca Empire when it was conquered by Inca Pachacuteq and his son Tupac Yupanqui. The first Spaniards to arrive in Lambayeque were part of the force led by Francisco Pizarro, on his way to Cajamarca and the conquest of the Inca Empire. Once the conquest had been completed after the capture of the Inca emperor Atahuallpa, Pizarro left many of his troops behind in northern Peru, where they settled and established new cities. During the war of independence, this region became an important focus of the struggle against the Spanish crown. Chiclayo was founded in 1560 and now has about 280,000 inhabitants and is the capital of its department. It has a number of good hotels, as well as beautiful plazas, churches and excellent museums like the Bruning, which has exhibits from the Moche and Chimú cultures and from Sipan. The department also has a number of good beaches such as Santa Rosa, Eten and Pimentel.
El Brujo
During the Mochica occupation (700 AD) The Brujo complex, following ancient tradition, became the religious capital of the whole system of local warlords established in the Chicama valley. But there were also other minor religious and administrative centers in the region: each valley had a ceremonial center like the El Brujo complex. Examples of the southern Mochica culture can be found at the Sun and Moon pyramids in the Moche valley. The temples were constructed in a typical style as high flat-top pyramids with terraces on the four sides and a big ceremonial plaza at the front. At the El Brujo pyramid we find high relief representations of human offerings, ritualistic battles, human sacrifices, ritual events, etc., as well as beautiful murals with stylized fishes and geometrical designs.
