Chotuna-Chornancap is celebrating its birthday – and visitors get in for free. The Museo de Sitio Chotuna Chornancap in Lambayeque is turning 17. The anniversary of the museum, which opened in 2009, will take center stage on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Cultural program for the anniversary
Since its opening, the museum has combined its work with the communication of the Lambayeque culture, archaeological research, and cooperation with the surrounding communities. The complex includes monumental adobe structures as well as exhibitions on the findings from Chotuna and Chornancap.
Where the story of Naylamp begins
Chotuna-Chornancap is much more than just a museum. The archaeological complex is one of the significant testaments to the Lambayeque or Sicán culture on the coast of northern Peru . The legend of Naylamp is associated with this site. According to tradition, the mythical ruler arrived at the coast from the sea with his entourage and is considered the founder of a ruling dynasty in Lambayeque. The museum depicts his story, from his arrival and landing to his death and burial.
Then archaeologists found the priestess
One of the most spectacular finds at Chornancap was the burial of a high-ranking woman of the Lambayeque culture. The woman, who became known as the Priestess of Chornancap, was buried with numerous grave goods. The discovery provided important insights into the religious and social status of high-ranking women in the Lambayeque culture.
Chotuna-Chornancap: The most important facts
Anniversary: September 19, 2026
Location: Museo de Sitio Huaca Chotuna-Chornancap
Region: Lambayeque, northern Peru
Opening: September 19, 2009
Focus: Lambayeque culture, Naylamp, archaeology, and Chornancap
Those who visit Chotuna-Chornancap get the museum and the archaeological complex in one place: the legend of Naylamp, monumental adobe architecture, and findings from one of northern Peru’s significant cultural landscapes.
Image source: MINCETUR – Inventario de Recursos Turísticos, Museo de Sitio Chotuna-Chornancap.
