The Moche Route

The Peruvian authorities in charge of tourism have announced a government project that will promote the cultural heritage of the northern regions of Lambayeque and La Libertad.  La Ruta Moche (The Moche Route) will promote the regions’ tourist destinations such as the many archaeological sites from the Moche and Chimu cultures.  

The Moche, also called Mochica, flourished in the desert coast of Northern Peru, between the first and sixth centuries AD. The discovery of the Señor de Sipán tomb exposed the level of development reached by this civilization, which achieved outstanding use of metallurgy and ceramic creations.

The tomb of the Señor de Sipán (Lord of Sipan) was discovered intact and undisturbed in 1987. It is considered the most important tomb ever-uncovered in the western hemisphere. The Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum displays a replica of the tomb of the Lord of Sipan showing the jewels, ornaments and other objects found in the real site.

Lambayeque and La Libertad are famous for their cultural heritage; new discoveries keep yielding important information about the people that once lived here. The museums built on the archaeological sites are a destination by themselves, where visitors can admire the greatness these cultures achieved. Some of the tourist attractions are UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the imperial city of the Chimu Culture, Chan Chan.

The Chimu ruled the northern deserts of the Peruvian coast from 850 AD until they fell under Inca domination in 1470 AD. Chan Chan, the largest adobe city of pre-Columbian America, covers approximately 20 square kilometers and was home for over 100,000 people, it is located near the colonial city of Trujillo in Northern Peru.