Sicán National Museum
About This Museum
Out here on the edge of Ferreñafe, the Sicán National Museum tells the story of the land itself, long before the Incas. It sits almost as a guardian of the Pómac Forest, where the ancient Sicán (or Lambayeque) culture flourished for centuries. The story here isn't just about gold, though there's plenty of that; it's about a people who mastered the desert with intricate canals and whose spiritual life revolved around the powerful Lord of Sicán. Walking through, you get a real sense of how this civilization rose, thrived, and eventually faded back into the dry earth.
Collection Highlights
The heart of the place is undoubtedly the reconstruction of the Tomb of the Lord of Sicán from Huaca Loro. You're face-to-face with his iconic burial mask, those haunting upturned eyes crafted in gold. Then there are the tumis—those ceremonial knives—and entire cases filled with dazzling funerary masks and textiles that make you wonder about the hands that made them.
Visitor Information
It's a bit off the main tourist trail, which is part of its charm. You'll find it on the road to Pitipo, making it a perfect stop before or after exploring the nearby Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary. The light is often bright and hazy out here, so bring a hat.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is modern and functional, but its design draws direct inspiration from Sicán temples, with a central structure meant to evoke their massive adobe huacas.
