Discover Sechura: Culture, Nature and Tradition

Sechura invites you to discover cultural history, local traditions and nature as different aspects of a trip. The Templo San Martín de Tours and the Museo Etnológico offer concrete insights into history and customs. Nearby, the Estuario de Virrilá and Playa de Chulliyachi add to the picture. As you plan your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on cultural topics, landscapes or a mix of both.

Templo San Martín de Tours and the Patron Saint Festival

The Templo San Martín de Tours is recognized as a colonial historic monument under Law No. 10278 of 1945. Its central façade is designed in the late Baroque style. Its two towers are particularly striking: each stands 40 meters tall. For visitors interested in architecture and religious history, the monument’s status, façade design and height are specific features of this Sechura landmark.

The San Martín de Tours Patron Saint Festival is also part of local tradition. The celebration is institutionalized by Municipal Ordinance No. 016-2023-MPS for November 11 each year, and is celebrated year after year by the Hermandad San Martín de Tours de Sechura. On the main festival day, a solemn Mass is held at the Templo. If you would like to plan your trip around cultural events, this annual date is an important point of reference.

Discover the Museo Etnológico

The Museo Etnológico is located in the Monasterio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús of the Benedictine Sisters, at Plazuela Juan Pablo II in the provincial capital of Sechura. Its three exhibition rooms focus on different aspects of regional history and daily life. The first room displays remains from Chusís, while the second features household items from Illescas. The third room contains colonial-era clothing from Sechura as well as photographs of local customs. The clear layout shows how archaeological evidence, everyday objects and images of traditions offer different ways of engaging with history.

Sechura’s cultural diversity also includes Artesanía de Sechura, which is recognized as a regional tourism offering. Another facet is the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal Infantil Sechura para el Mundo. It promotes musical education and the dissemination of regional and national art through the production and support of symphonic concerts. If you are interested in music and regional culture, these topics complement the picture provided by the monument and museum.

Wetland, beach and regional cuisine

The Estuario de Virrilá is located near Sechura. It is a wetland ecosystem in the Pacific desert region, whose varied habitats support exceptional biological diversity. The area has been recognized as an Área de Conservación Ambiental since November 2015 and has been a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since June 21, 2021. This gives you a nature-focused option to add to your trip alongside the city’s cultural highlights.

Playa de Chulliyachi is also nearby. The wide beach is suitable for excursions and relaxation, offering a different way to experience the area. If you are weighing up natural and cultural interests for your trip, you can consider this beach landscape and the wetland as different excursion destinations. Ajicito de Junta is a local culinary specialty, regarded as a typical dish in the community it comes from.

Getting there and getting around

A public bus connects the Terminal Terrestre Satélite Bajo Piura in Piura with Sechura’s municipal bus station. The route is 50 kilometers long and takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. From the bus station, you can reach the Museo Etnológico by mototaxi along a paved road: the distance is about 1.5 kilometers and the ride takes around 7 minutes. These details apply to the connection to Sechura and the journey to the museum; they provide practical guidance for these parts of your trip.

More destinations

Paita District, Sullana, El Alto, Lobitos, Ñuro, Talara, Canchaque District

For the main travel overview: Piura.