In Túcume, lively festival traditions meet archaeological sites and handicrafts. For planning your trip, you can choose from different areas of focus: the Danza de los Diablicos and its connection to the patron saint festivals, the nearby archaeological complex, or demonstrations of traditional craft techniques. This lets you shape your stay around the topics that interest you most.
The Danza de los Diablicos and the Festival Days
The Danza de los Diablicos de Túcume was declared a part of the Nation’s Cultural Heritage on March 25, 2013. The dance and theatrical performance are associated with the Virgen Purísima Concepción de Túcume, whom local residents also call “La serranita.” On the main day of the patron saint festival, the Danza portrays the triumph of good over evil; various Diablicos perform the seven deadly sins.
The Festividad Patronal de la Virgen Purísima Concepción is celebrated in Túcume twice a year: on February 20 and August 20. If you want to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the dates before making your plans locally. The connection between the festival and the dance gives you a clear reason to take the dates into account when planning your trip.
Archaeological Complex and Museum
The nearby Complejo Arqueológico Túcume is also known as the Pirámides de Túcume, Cerro La Raya and Cerro Purgatorio. The complex includes Huaca Larga, Huaca I, the Templo de la Piedra Sagrada, Huaca Las Estacas and the Plaza Central. A paved road leads from Túcume’s main park to the complex, a distance of more than 2 kilometers; on foot, the journey takes about 20 minutes.
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. Three official routes are designated for visitors: Norte, Sur and Integral. Check in advance which route is available for your visit.
Masks, Dance and Weaving Arts
The Taller Diablico de Túcume makes capes, masks and miniatures of the Diablicos. It also offers dance workshops for local students and visitors. This brings the handcrafted objects and the transmission of the dance into focus alongside the theatrical tradition. Check before visiting to find out what options are currently available.
There are two more places to explore weaving arts. The Taller Artesanal Valle de las Pirámides, on Calle Unión between the streets Unión and Incas, is two blocks from the main park and offers demonstrations of weaving on a backstrap loom using locally grown cotton. In the hamlet of La Raya, in the buffer zone of the archaeological complex, the Taller Artesanal de Susana Bances welcomes visitors to see how locally grown cotton is woven on a backstrap loom. One workshop is in town near the main park, the other in the hamlet of La Raya; arrange a visit or demonstration with the respective workshop in advance.
Church Opposite the Main Park
The church of Túcume is opposite the main park. It was built in 1836. After its walls were taken down in 1930 because they were at risk of collapsing, the church was rebuilt on the same plot. This sequence helps put the present-day building in its historical context: its construction, dismantling and rebuilding all took place at the same location.
The façade has a central nave with a rounded arch and two side towers. Its architecture combines Baroque, Churrigueresque and Neoclassical elements; a sculpture of Saint Peter adorns the entrance. For travelers interested in architectural history as well as festivals and archaeological sites, the church offers another tangible cultural connection in town.
Discover more destinations: Luya, Lambayeque, Las Delicias, Illimo.
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