Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán

Built to resemble the Moche pyramids where the tombs were found, the museum houses the intact burial goods of the Lord of Sipán, a Moche ruler buried with elaborate gold, silver, and copper regalia, discovered in 1987 in Lambayeque near Chiclayo.

Planning your visit

The tomb of the Lord of Sipán, excavated in 1987, is the richest intact burial ever found in the Americas — a Moche ruler of the third century AD, interred with gold and gilded copper headdresses, nose ornaments, ear spools inlaid with turquoise, ceremonial knives, textiles and shell, alongside attendants, a warrior with his feet removed so he could not leave, and llamas and a dog. The find was made by chance after looters had begun working the site, and the archaeologist Walter Alva reached it in time.

The museum at Lambayeque, opened in 2002, is designed as a truncated pyramid echoing the Moche huacas, and visitors descend through it as though entering the tomb, reaching the burial reconstruction at the lowest level with the goods arranged as found.

Moche metalwork was extraordinarily sophisticated, using techniques including depletion gilding that European goldsmiths did not develop for centuries.

Bookable options include tours from Chiclayo combining the museum with Huaca Rajada, the excavation site itself, and formats from Trujillo. Current availability is listed below.