Land of shamans and rice farmers, Ferreñafe is the typical town of Peru where the Spanish heritage mixes with the local religiosity.
It is famous for the Sicán museum, which houses the tomb of one of the most powerful lords in the region, who exercised sovereignty over him before the Incas.
The hospitality of its people and its delicious gastronomy make Ferreñafe an obligatory stop on the way to the north of Peru.
Location
Ferreñafe is a city in northwestern Peru, capital of the Province of Ferreñafe (Department of Lambayeque).
The Peruvian District of Ferreñafe is one of the six districts of the Province of Ferreñafe, located in the Department of Lambayeque, belonging to the Lambayeque Region, Peru.
It owes its name to its capital, the city of Ferreñafe. It belongs to the coastal geographical region.
- Capital: City of Ferreñafe.
- Geographic Extension: 130.42 km2.
- Boundaries:
- North: District of Pítipo,
- South: District of Picsi (in the Province of Chiclayo),
- East: Manuel Antonio Mesones Muro District (also known as Tres Tomas),
- West: Pueblo Nuevo District.
- Climate: Hot, dry and tropical.
- Height: 37m.
Tourist Places
Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary
This Sanctuary houses the most representative number of pre-Inca pyramids in South America. In addition, its diverse avifauna makes it an important point of attention for bird watchers around the world.
Location
Department of Lambayeque, province of Lambayeque, district of Pitipo, lower basin of the river La Leche, 31.5 kilometers from Chiclayo.
Extension
5,887.38 hectares (41% of the surface of Lambayeque).
Accessibility
Northwest route: it begins in the city of Chiclayo, capital of the department. It crosses the province of Ferreñaje and the district of Pitipo and reaches “la Curva”. Take the road that continues from this point and arrive at the Interpretation Center of the Sanctuary. The distance from Chiclayo is 41 kilometers and it takes 45 minutes. West Route: From Chiclayo, you go to the Túcume, Illimo and Pacora districts, with the necessary time being 35 minutes and the distance 40 kilometers.
Altitude
80 m.a.s.l.
Climatology
Equatorial Dry Forest Climate: dry and warm in the morning and sunny and cool in the afternoon. Average annual temperature of 28°C, being between June and August 15°C. Sporadic rains between December and May. Precipitation increases when the “El Niño Phenomenon” occurs.
Biodiversity
Flora
4 types of vegetable units:
- Prosopis forest: absolute dominance of carob trees.
- Prosopis Forest – Capparis: presence of carob and sapote.
- Capparis Forest: sapote dominance
- Chaparral forest: marginal areas.
As can be seen, the dominant species are the carob tree and the sapote. Other important species are: faique, palo verde, angolo, whip of Christ; the bushes vichayo, cuncuno, Chaquiro. There is also the giant cactus and the foxtail.
Fauna
Large number of endemic species.
Birds: 70 species, 22 of them endemic. They stand out: Peruvian lopper (in danger of extinction), Tumbes swallow, rufous tuft, bandurria, Tumbes tyrant, coastal amazilia, huerequeque, chilalo, magpie, cinereo finch, sand owl, striped woodpecker, cinnamon-colored hawk, chiroque, thrush chivillo, putilla, rice grower, nightingale, carter, red-headed parrot, etc.
Mammals: 7 species. They include: Sechurano fox, Sechura mouse, anteater, wild cat, sotillo, white-naped squirrel and vampire bat.
Reptiles: 9 species. There are pacasos, iguanas, boas, macanches and coralillos.
Sican National Museum
Located in the extreme north of the city, this attractive cultural center was inaugurated in November 2001. For its construction and implementation, the financial and scientific support of the Japanese government was provided. In this museum, part of the archaeological and instrumental heritage extracted mainly from the Batangrande area is exhibited. Here the objects found in Huaca Loro are exhibited, a site where the Japanese researcher Izumi Shimada discovered two elite tombs of the Sicán culture, between the years 1992 - 1995. The museum allows you to have an overview of what was the capital of culture Sican in Batán Grande. A scale model of the Huaca Loro is exhibited as well as ceramics found in the archaeological site.
Replicas of the burial patterns of the two tombs found at Huaca Loro have been made. This allows us to have a clearer idea of the concept of death for the Sicans.
Other rooms offer us dioramas with the description of the techniques used to make ceramics. As well as recreations of the metalworking process, from its extraction to the final finish with the use of techniques such as hammering, troweling, casting, fretwork, etc.
The final part of the museum is the most important because the objects found in the archaeological site of Huaca Loro are exhibited here. The crown of the lord of the main tomb is majestic, the representation of the bat with its mouth open amazes with its realism. The earmuffs, calves and other gold ornaments are masterpieces. Luckily, they resisted time and the humidity of the ground, since the tombs were located an average of 12 meters below ground.
Pieces of the Sicán National Museum
Black bottle with molded decoration. Also known as "Huaco Rey" - Huaca Las Ventanas
Material: Ceramic
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of the face represented on the bottle. Some researchers propose that it is the face of Naymlap - Huaca Las Ventanas
Material: Ceramic
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Earring with embossed decoration - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of the pendant accessories of the earring - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Banner with embossed radial decoration - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of the embossed decoration of the banner - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Banner with Hanging Accessories - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of the hanging accessories of the banner - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Rattle with geometric decoration - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of rattle with geometric decoration - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Crown with embossed decoration - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of the crown decorated with embossed rhombuses and waves - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Crown Ornament - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Detail of embossed decoration of crown ornament - East Tomb of Huaca del Oro
Material: Gold
Style: Middle Sicán (900 - 1100 AD)
Santa Lucia Church
It is located on the west side of the main square, it was inaugurated in 1864, 130 years after its construction began. Of baroque - colonial architecture, made with brick, plaster and adobe. The altar is made of cedar and the doors are made of carob. The facade has four columns on both sides of the main door, two of them longer that end in narrow ornamental points. It also has two towers with hemispherical domes. The columns of the temple are of Roman style, refurbished and painted later. The shield of the church has in the center of the emblem the blue eyes of Saint Lucia and the set flanked by two angels who protect the mandate of God and keep the devil under control, located in the lower part. The shield symbolizes the martyrdom of Lucia, Saint of Syracuse.
Chaparrí Ecological Reserve
The Chaparrí de Ferreñafe Ecological Reserve is located near the center of Ferreñafe, in the Lambayeque region. The beautiful reserve invades an area of 34,000 hectares and is a private reserve that was established as a joint effort between technician Heinz Plenge and the community of Santa Catalina. The place is one of the few spaces in the world where tourists have the opportunity to see the incredible spectacled bear in its natural environment and it was appreciated that 25 of them exist in the reserve with two more in captivity for restitution. Other prototype fauna found in the reserve include pumas, Andean vermin, and collared anteaters. About a third of the vertebrate genera that exist in the park are found nowhere else in the world. It is an excellent park for bird research, as there are more than 230 bird species in the park.
Best Tours in Peru
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
- Cusco to Manu Tour
- Half Day Cusco City Tour
- Qoyllur Riti Festival
- Apurimac River Rafting
- Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu Tour
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.