Discover Túcume: Dance Tradition, Archaeology and Crafts

A distinctive dance tradition, archaeological sites and craft techniques shape Túcume as a destination. Festival days offer insights into local customs, while nearby archaeological sites and workshops provide other points of interest for your stay. You can get to know Túcume according to your interests, through its culture, history or traditional crafts.

Festival Days and the Danza de los Diablicos

The Festividad Patronal de la Virgen Purísima Concepción is celebrated in Túcume twice a year: on February 20 and August 20. The Danza de los Diablicos de Túcume is associated with the Virgen Purísima Concepción de Túcume, whom local people also call “La serranita.” The dance tradition was declared part of the Nation’s Cultural Heritage on March 25, 2013.

On the central day of the patron saint festival, the Danza de los Diablicos represents the triumph of good over evil. Various Diablicos portray the seven deadly sins. If you are interested in local festival traditions, this performance offers specific themes to shape your visit around. The two festival dates held each year are important points of reference when planning your trip.

Archaeological Sites and Museum

The Complejo Arqueológico Túcume is located near Túcume and is also known as the Pirámides de Túcume, Cerro La Raya and Cerro Purgatorio. The complex includes, among other sites, Huaca Larga, Huaca I, the Templo de la Piedra Sagrada, Huaca Las Estacas and the Plaza Central. Its different names and structures offer several specific points of reference if you would like to explore this archaeological site.

The nearby Museo de Sitio de Túcume preserves and displays more than 1,500 archaeological objects found during excavations at the complex. They come from the Lambayeque, Chimú and Inca cultures, as well as from the colonial period. The museum offers three official routes called Norte, Sur and Integral. From Túcume’s main park, a 2 km paved route leads on foot to the archaeological complex; the walk takes about 20 minutes. These details give you a practical starting point for fitting a visit into your day’s plans.

Weaving and Dance to Discover

Craftwork is another part of what Túcume has to offer. Taller Artesanal Valle de las Pirámides, on Calle Unión, between Unión and Incas streets, demonstrates backstrap loom weaving with locally grown cotton. The workshop is two blocks from the main park. In the hamlet of La Raya, in the buffer zone of the archaeological complex of Túcume, Taller Artesanal de Susana Bances welcomes visitors to watch demonstrations of backstrap loom weaving with locally grown cotton. Both locations focus on weaving, but they are in different places.

Taller Diablico de Túcume makes capes, masks and Diablico miniatures. It also offers dance workshops for local students and visitors. So, as well as watching a dance performance, you can also learn the dance yourself. If you are travelling with children, you can plan to explore these different ways of experiencing festival traditions and crafts together, without having to commit to a set programme.

Church Opposite the Main Park

The church of Túcume stands opposite the main park. It was built in 1836. In 1930, its walls were dismantled because they were in danger of collapsing; the church was then rebuilt on the same site. Its façade features a round-arched central nave and two side towers. Baroque, Churrigueresque and Neoclassical elements come together in its architecture, and a sculpture of Saint Peter adorns the entrance. Its location and design make the church another well-defined point of interest as you explore the area.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a holiday rental in Túcume, it is worth first deciding which travel interests matter most to you: would you like to focus on festival traditions, choose the archaeological routes, or explore weaving and dance? The festival dates, the walking route from the main park to the complex, and the workshop locations offer practical guidance for your planning. You can use these details to consider which experiences you want to shape your stay and which location within the destination might suit your plans.

If you would like to discover places beyond Túcume, also take a look at Luya, Illimo, Lambayeque and Las Delicias.

Back to the main travel overview: Lambayeque.