Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jaén
20-25
6
Lima
40-125
12-14
Máncora
30-35
6
Pacasmayo
9
2
Piura
12-14
3
Tarapoto
45-120
14
Tumbes
25-50
8
Yurimaguas
65-70
20
Around Chiclayo
Given the doubling of guide prices in the last few years, it hardly makes sense to travel in-
dependently to most of the archaeological sites around Chiclayo - you'll find the organ-
ized tours far more convenient.
SIPÁN
The story of Sipán reads like an Indiana Jones movie script: buried treasure,
huaqueros,
police, archaeologists and at least one killing. The archaeological
site
(adult S8;
9am-5pm)
, also known as Huaca Rayada, was discovered by
huaqueros
from the nearby
hamlet of Sipán. When local archaeologist Dr Walter Alva saw a huge influx of intricate
objects on the black market in early 1987, he realized that an incredible burial site was be-
ing ransacked in the Chiclayo area. Careful questioning led Dr Alva to the Sipán mounds.
To the untrained eye the mounds look like earthen hills, but in AD 300 these were huge
truncated pyramids constructed from millions of adobe bricks.
At least one major tomb had already been pillaged by looters, but fast protective action
by local archaeologists and police stopped further plundering. Luckily, several other
tombs that the grave robbers had missed were unearthed, including an exceptional royal
Moche burial that became known as the Lord of Sipán. One
huaquero
was shot and killed
by police in the early, tense days of the struggle over the graves. The Sipán locals were
not too happy at losing what they considered their treasure trove. To solve this problem,
