Chiclayo – the pride of Peru
Peru | admin | July 9, 2010The wonderful city of Chiclayo is the headquarters of the Lambayeque region of North Peru. This marvelous city lies at just 13 kms from the huge Pacific Ocean and its distance from Peru’s capital Lima is around 770 kms.
This city has some very unique distinctions to its credit. It was founded way back in the 1500s’ and during those days the city was called “Santa María de los Valles de Chiclayo.” The title of “city” came only on April 15, 1835, courtesy the then Peruvian President Felipe Santiago Salaverry. The President also bestowed upon Chiclayo, the honorary name of the “Heroic City.” This is a proud honor and the city has lived up to this reputation and this honor is intact even today, which is only a fitting reward to the courage of the citizens of the city.
Chiclayo is a very major city in the nation of Peru. In the current day, the city is classified as the fourth largest in the whole of Peru. The city is ranked after the bigwigs and the top three include the capital city of Lima, besides the major cities of Arequipa and Trujillo.
The city is quite populous as well with over 400, 000 residents. The city is quite developed and full of commercial activities and the facilities on offer here are unltra-modern. The city is also known to be one of the friendliest cities of the nation of Peru and owing to this fact; the city is known the world over as “The Capital of Friendship” and “the Pearl of the North.”
Let’s go through some of the many attractions of the city in brief.
Bruening Archaeological Museum:
This museum is situated in the Lambayeque area, which is around 11 kms in the northwards direction from the city center of Chiclayo. The museum is full of exhibits of some of the rare pieces as found in the Piramid of Sipan. The best feature of this museum is it may appear quite ugly from the outside, however, you will be of an entirely different opinion once you enter the museum’s interiors.
Mercado Modelo:
This is a flourishing flea market area. The area boasts of a maze of stalls and it is possible for you to buy just about everything here.
Lord of Sipan Tomb (El Senor de Sipan):
This is a huge archaeological site and the entire area is full of Moche history. An astonishing fact here is the place was discovered only in the late 1980s and hence it is a must visit on your next visit as you may end up discovering some unknown facts about this archaeological site.
Paseo de las Musas:
The Paseo de las Musas is in close vicinity to two major landmarks, the Avenida Bolognesi and the Avenida Balta Sur. The Paseo is set-up in an open park and the entire place is all about classical-style statues and all about the Greek mythology. As you continue your way into the Paseo, you will discover stone pavilions and gardens. This place is open throughout the day and the entry is free. As such, the gardens and the surrounding areas are amongst the favorite picnic spots for visitors.
Cine Primavera:
The Cine Primavera is a movie complex and not just any ordinary cine complex. This modern complex boasts of five screens and if you are eager to view the latest Hollywood blockbusters, then the Cine Primavera is the place to be in. The latest blockbusters are also dubbed in the local Spanish language or sometimes have Spanish sub-titles.
The Cineplex is situated at a very convenient location and has all major hotels in its vicinity.
Plaza de Armas:
The Plaza de Armas is undoubtedly the most prominent and amongst the mostly frequented landmarks of the city of Chiclayo. This landmark is situated in the centre of the city and is an ideal spot for walks in the afternoon.
Some of the talking points of this major landmark include the various cafes and shops besides the marvelous Mercado Central along with its cathedral.
The Chiclayo cathedral is also another prominent place to visit. This 120 year old cathedral is nicely sandwiched between two prominent locations of the city, the Elias Aguirre and San Jose streets.
Santa Rosa:
Santa Rosa is a sleepy fishing village and owns a prized possession – A wonderful beach.
This beach is used as a shipyard by the locals. As fishing is the major bread earning activity in this part of the world, it is a common sight to see many boats just lying in and around the beach.
The Sican National Museum:
The Sican National Museum is nicely sandwiched between the towns of Chiclayo and the neighboring town of Ferrenafe. A normal journey from the city center of Chiclayo will take you to the Sican museum in around 20 minutes. The museum is all about exhibits of countless and exquisite relics, which were found during the Sican civilization.
Pomac Forest:
This historic forest area is also locally referred to as the Bosque Historico del Pomac and houses a bird sanctuary, where you can go bird watching and view the various species of birds found in this part of the world.
The forest area is also the home of the Parrot Pyramid, which is believed to be the pyramid, where the Lord Sipan was first discovered.
Pimentel Beach Town:
If you are looking for surfing activities, then the Pimentel Beach is the best place for you to be in. The highlights of the area include sea-side restaurants, besides a pier, which allows one to walk around the place and also enjoy the spectacular views of the blue ocean waters.
The city is also home to some of the premier universities. Some of the universities are Federal Republic of Germany Institute, Alas Peruanas University Campus, Private University of Chiclayo, Señor de Sipan University and Catholic University of Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo.
The city has also provided the world with wonderful personalities, who over the years have carved a niche for themselves and have also made the place of their roots, Chiclayo proud. Some of the prominent sons of the soil are José Quinones Gonzales, who is considered a national hero in the field of aviation, Miguel Baca Rossi, a very famous sculptor, Eduardo Orrego Villacorta, a prominent architect and Carlos Eduardo Samame Quinones, a commander in chief for the Peruvian Air Force.
Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.
How do I reach the city of Chiclayo?
The city is well-connected with Peru and the rest of the world courtesy the city’s very own Capt. FAP José A. Quinones Gonzales International Airport. This airport hosts a series of daily flights from the US and other major cities of the world.
Once you have set foot at the Chiclayo airport, it is recommended you proceed to your destination via a hired private cab.
Alternatively, the city on account of its location boasts of a very efficient bus transport system. There are a number of prominent companies in operation here and the cities connected include some faraway cities such as the capital of Lima, Tumbes, Chachapoyas, Jaén, Cutervo and Cajamarca.
Where do I stay during my Chiclayo holiday?
The area in and around Chiclayo boasts of some of the finest if not the best accommodation options available in a number of budget categories to suit your pocket. Some of the more prominent landmarks of the city are Gran Chiclayo, BInca, Hotel Casa de la Luna Fernández Carranza José Marti, las Garzas, Hotel Santa Rosa Hotel Santa Rosa SAC, Hotel Santa Rosa Hotel Santa Rosa SAC, Hotel Gran Sipan, Hotel Costa del Sol Chiclayo Costa del Sol S.A., Hotel Alameda Alameda SRL, Hotel Paraiso Chiclayo, Gran Hotel Chiclayo and Las Musas Hotel & Casino.
When is the best time of the year to visit Chiclayo?
It is recommended you visit the city during the Easter weekend in the months of either late March or early April depending upon the actual Easter date of that year. The native people of the city and Peru as a whole are known to be very pious and street processions, wherein pilgrims carry the statue of Jesus Christ, are a very common sight.
However, it is recommended you book your tickets well in as you may be in for a shock if you try for tickets at the last moment as the fares hit the roof during the Easter weekend. Other favorable times for a visit include the months from June through August, which sees lovely temperatures.
In conclusion, the city of Chiclayo is an ideal holiday destination. The city is without a shadow of a doubt certainly in the top ten when it comes to the best holiday destinations of the world. The city has been tagged as the “Friendliest” and the “Heroic City” and this is only a fitting reflection to the spirit of the people of the city.
Secondly, the city as a tourism destination is quite safe vis-à-vis the other prominent hot spots of the world. This has been proved by the fact that the city has not seen any cases of untoward incidents reported in recent years. Hence, you can be assured the place is safe for you, your kids and loved ones.
So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that all important trip to Chiclayo.
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Chiclayo is rich in culture and the people of Chiclayo are really warm and friendly..It known as one of the friendliest cities in Peru..It is one of the most important urban areas of Peru..