Of Túcume
Near Chiclayo, Peru
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The Plains Of Tucume are part of the Lambayeque Valley, the largest valley of the North Coast of Peru. The Lambayeque Valley contains many natural and man-made waterways. lt is also a region of 26 major pyramids and platforms, as well as, many other minor pyramids. This area was a major population center, perhaps the capital of each of the successive cultures of the area; by the Lambayeque/Sican (1000/1100-1350 AD), the Chimú (1350-1450 AD), and later on the Inca (1450-1532 AD). Father Cabello de Balboa (1586 AD) recorded local legends concerning the founding of Tucume. According to his writings, Cala, a grandson of the mythical Naymlap, founder of the Lambayeque royal dynasty, is said to have gone to Tucume to "start new settlements, bringing many people him with". The founding of the Tucume area occured in about 1000-1100 AD, when the old regional center at Batán Grande, to the south of the Chancay river, was burnt and abandoned. Tucume quickly rose to a prominent position within the valley. Tucume, covers an area of 540+ acres and encompassing 26 major pyramids and platforms. The largest and most impressive pyramids of the Plains Of Tucume are found in the archaeological sector, to the north and northeast of La Raya Mountain (“Mountain of the Ray”). The three major structures are: Huaca Larga, Huaca 1 and The U-shaped "Temple of the Sacred Stone". Excavations in other areas have yielded many details about the functioning of the site and about the lives of its inhabitants. The fragility of the adobe construction, climate, and lack of economic resources, have resulted in a great deal of deterioration to this site. Local shaman healers (“curanderos”) invoke the powers of Tucume and the La Raya Mountain in their many rituals and local people are fearful of these places. Hardly anyone other than the healers venture into these areas at night. The local people refer to the various pyramids and mounds on the plain around La Raya Mountain, south of the La Leche River as Purgatorio (purgatory). This name Purgatorio may date back to the colonial period. In fact there is evidence that a great fire destroyed the central parts of Huaca Larga. If fact, several archaeologists believe that the fire that destroyed the central part of Huaca Larga, coincides with the beginning of the colonial period and of the abandonment of the site. Oral history of the area says that enormous fires were lit by the Spanish colonists to convince the local people that Huaca Larga was truely the very gate to purgatory. Evidence has been found of the Chimú conquest, of about 1350 AD, as well as the later Inca conquest of the region, in about 1470 AD in various ceramics, burials, and offerings. HUACA 1 The Huaca 1 (Pyramid 1) rises about 98-feet high behind the site museum, to the west of "Huaca Las Estacas" (Pyramid of the Stakes). "Huaca Las Estacas" is a stepped pyramid with an access ramp that makes several right - angle turns up the body of the pyramid. It has two plazas, one on the north side and a large, 259 X 689 foot plaza, surrounded by high walls on the south. It also has several large annexes attached to the structure. One of these annexes, is called "The Bell-Shaped Building". On top of Huaca 1 there are a series of rooms at different levels with several access ramps and stairways. It is thought that these rooms were the living quarters of the Lambayeque elite. Later during the Chimú period (1350 - 1470 AD); Huaca One continued in use and bird friezes were added to the structure. HUACA LARGA "Huaca Larga", or the "Long Pyramid," is the longest adobe structure in the America's. It is about 2,300-feet in length, from the foot of La Raya Mountain to the short, straight access ramp on the north side. It started out as a freestanding platform of the Lambayeque, or Sican, culture of (1000/1100-1350 AD). The buildings were painted in red, white and black. There are murals of flying birds in the "Temple of the Mythical Bird" which are examples of Chimú painting. Long corridors and dividing walls partition the Huaca Larga complex and there is a northern, public, ceremonial area and a southern area for cooking and manufacturing. There was an Inca presence at Huaca Larga (1470-1532 AD) which is referred to as the “stone phase” due to the Inca preference for stones as a building material. Weaving of delicate textiles, by consecrated women, was performed at Huaca Larga during the Inca period. The burials of 19 female Inca weavers were found under one of the Inca - built rooms, In a different room at the top of Huaca Larga, was found three male burials, one of them of a man with clothing indicating that he was the Inca governor of Tucume. THE TEMPLE OF THE SACRED STONE The "Temple of the Sacred Stone" is a small, rectangular U-shaped structure to the east of Huaca Larga. lt is considered a major temple that travelers had to pass by before entering the area. The walled roadway system of this section of the Lambayeque valley leads to this temple and then to Huaca Larga. The sacred object of this temple is a large, upright boulder in the middle of the one-room building. HUACA BALSAS Huaca Balsas is best known for its beautiful friezes, however they are damaged by looting. These best known is the frieze known as “the Mound of the Rafts", which ison the southwestern edge of the site in a group of large pyramids outside the monumental sector. The "Frieze of the Rafts" depicts a mythical scene in which a bird - man figureand a bird lead a raft, following a similar raft. The friezes of Huaca Balsas may show scenes that form part of the Lambayeque mythology. Our tour guides took us to some interesting fields of sugar cane and a few Jocote (ho-CO-tay) trees where we tried a tasty red plum fruit called Jocote. The Jocote is also called Red Mombin, Purple Mombin, Ciruela, or Hog Plum. It is produced on a tree about 25 feet tall named Spondias purpurea. Sometimes the fruit is yellow. We were at the Tucume Pyramids on April 26, 2006 during the morning from 9:00 AM until about 11:00 AM.

Chiclayo, is the capital city of the Lambayeque region in northern Peru. It is located 13 kilometers inland from the Pacific coast and 770 kilometers from the nation's capital, Lima. Chiclayo is one of the most important urban areas of Peru. It has grown to become the country's fourth largest city after Lima, Arequipa, and Trujillo. Chiclayo is very commercialized and has many modern characteristics. It is known as one of the friendliest cities in Peru. Because of this attribute, Chiclayo is known as, "The Capital of Friendship and the Pearl of the North." There are several Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, and archaeological tours of Chiclayo and the surrounding area. The Capitán FAP José A. Quiñones Gonzales International Airport (IATA: CIX, ICAO: SPHI) is the airport serving Chiclayo, Peru and the surrounding metropolitan area. It is run by CORPAC S.A. (Corporación Peruana de Aeropuertos y Aviación Comercial S.A.), a government-run organization that oversees the management of Peruvian airports. It is the main airport of the Lambayeque Region, one of the most populous of the country. We suggest Flying into Chiclayo and then going to the surrounding areas of your choice. There is another choice and that is to fly in to Trujillo. Trujillo is a moderately large city in Northwestern Peru, very close to the Pacific Coast. Trujillo is known for its seafood and the beaches of its famous surf and beach resort Huanchaco. The Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (IATA: TRU, ICAO: SPRU); known as Aeropuerto Internacional Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos in Spanish, is the airport serving Peru's third most important city, Trujillo. It is the main air hub in northern Peru. This page is for information purposes only and while we have made every effort to be accurate, it is the travelers responsibility to make the appropriate choice as to which hotels to use in Peru. We found that when touring Peru, Magical Cusco Tours gave us the best service of all. They even arranged very personal tours based upon our ages and experience. They were there for us whenever we needed them. Click on any of their links on our pages and they will give you a 4% discount for taking their package tours. Mention delange.org. Merchant Code Inka2010 for your discount! We suggest letting Ana Maria handle your tour. Note: The 4% discount applies to package tours only! Discount does not apply to hotel bookings, domestic or international tickets, meals or any other service booked as a single activity. Magical Cusco Tours also has a culinary tour that you may enjoy.Click Here For: Taste Of Peru.com their culinary tour page. We also have links to Priceline.Com on our pages, in case you may prefer to use their services.