Sechura brings together a colonial historical monument, an ethnological museum, and an annual patron saint festival. Nearby, an internationally recognized wetland and a broad beach add landscape and ecology to the cultural experience. This gives you a range of themes to focus on as you plan your trip: architecture and local collections in Sechura, and nature in the surrounding area.
The Festival of San Martín de Tours
The Festival of San Martín de Tours in the Province of Sechura was institutionalized by Municipal Ordinance No. 016-2023-MPS on November 2, 2023. The Hermandad San Martín de Tours de Sechura celebrates the festival every year, with the feast day falling on November 11. On the main day of the festival, a solemn Mass is held at the Templo San Martín de Tours. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, plan your travel dates around November 11.
Templo San Martín de Tours
The Templo San Martín de Tours has been recognized as a colonial historical monument under Law No. 10278 of 1945. Its two towers are each 40 meters high, while the central façade is in the late Baroque style. This gives you two specific features to look for when exploring the architecture: the height of the towers and the style of the central façade.
Museo Etnológico
The Museo Etnológico is located in the Monasterio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús of the Benedictine nuns, at Plazuela Juan Pablo II in the provincial capital of Sechura. Its three exhibition rooms each have a different focus. The first displays remains from Chusís, while the second features everyday objects from Illescas. The third showcases clothing from Sechura dating to the colonial period, as well as photographs of local customs. This layout helps you see which topics are covered in each room.
Wetland and Beach Nearby
The Estuario de Virrilá is near Sechura and forms part of the Pacific Desert ecosystem. Its varied habitats support exceptional biological diversity. Since November 2015, the estuary has been recognized as an Área de Conservación Ambiental; since June 21, 2021, it has also been recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Playa de Chulliyachi is also nearby. The broad beach is suitable for outings and relaxation. The two places offer different nature experiences: at Virrilá, the focus is on the wetland ecosystem and its recognitions; at Chulliyachi, on the beach and its suitability for outings and relaxation.
Crafts, Cuisine, and Music
Crafts and cuisine are also among Sechura’s cultural highlights. Artesanía de Sechura was recognized as a regional tourism offering by a regional ordinance dated October 5, 2017. Ajicito de Junta is considered a typical dish of Sechura. Both add regional cultural traditions to the picture, alongside the monument and museum collections.
The Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal Infantil Sechura para el Mundo adds another cultural dimension. A regional ordinance dated October 5, 2017, recognizes the ensemble. It promotes musical education and the dissemination of regional and national arts by producing and supporting symphonic concerts.
Getting There and Getting Around
The connection between the Terminal Terrestre Satélite Bajo Piura in Piura and Sechura’s municipal bus terminal is listed as a 50-kilometer public bus journey taking 1 hour and 20 minutes. Travel time may vary; check the schedule for your travel date.
An approximately 1.5-kilometer paved route leads from the municipal bus terminal to the Museo Etnológico. The mototaxi ride is estimated to take about seven minutes; this travel time may also vary. These two details cover different parts of your journey: the bus connection to Sechura and the onward trip from the bus terminal to the museum.
Discover more destinations: Sullana, Ñuro, Talara, Lobitos, El Alto, Paita District, Canchaque District.
Back to the main travel overview: Piura.
