Sechura: Temple, Museum, and Coastal Landscape

Sechura offers a focus on cultural history centered around the Templo San Martín de Tours and the Museo Etnológico. Nearby, the Estuario de Virrilá adds a wetland ecosystem, while Playa de Chulliyachi adds a wide beach to the picture. Temple architecture, local collections, and landscapes offer different themes for planning your trip.

Temple, Festival, and Architecture

The Templo San Martín de Tours is recognized as a colonial historical monument under Law No. 10278 of 1945. Its central façade is designed in the late Baroque style; the two towers are each 40 meters high. The temple’s historical classification and its specific architectural features thus stand out as distinct aspects.

Municipal Ordinance No. 016-2023-MPS institutionalized the San Martín de Tours patronal festival on November 2, 2023, to be held on November 11 each year. Every year, the festival is celebrated by the Hermandad San Martín de Tours de Sechura. On the main day of the festival, a solemn mass is held at the Templo San Martín de Tours. The designated annual date and the church building are thus directly linked to the festival tradition.

Discover the 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. The collection is organized into three rooms: the first displays remains from Chusís, and the second, household items from Illescas. The third features clothing from the colonial period in Sechura and photographs of local customs. The exhibition thus brings together different objects and photographic records associated with places and customs in the region.

Handicrafts, Cuisine, and Music

The cultural profile also includes Artesanía de Sechura, recognized as a regional tourism offering by a regional ordinance dated October 5, 2017. In the municipality of Sechura, Ajicito de Junta is considered a typical dish. Another facet is the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal Infantil Sechura para el Mundo, which promotes music education and the dissemination of regional and national art through the production and support of symphonic concerts. Cultural themes thus range from handicrafts and cuisine to music education.

Wetland and Beach Nearby

The Estuario de Virrilá lies 31 kilometers south of Sechura. It has been recognized as an Área de Conservación Ambiental since November 2015; on June 21, 2021, it was also recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. As a wetland ecosystem in the Pacific desert region, it encompasses various habitats that support exceptional biological diversity.

Playa de Chulliyachi lies seven kilometers west of Sechura. The wide beach is suitable for outings and relaxation. The natural attractions therefore offer a clear contrast for your plans: Virrilá is a diverse wetland with international recognition, while Chulliyachi is a wide beach suited to relaxation.

Getting There and Getting Around

The connection between the Terminal Terrestre Satélite Bajo Piura in Piura and the municipal bus station in Sechura covers 50 kilometers and takes one hour and 20 minutes by public bus. Travel times may vary; check the current service before traveling.

A route from the municipal bus station to the Museo Etnológico follows a paved road and can be traveled by mototaxi. The distance is about 1.5 kilometers, and the trip takes around seven minutes; this travel time may also vary. Check current transport options before making your plans.

Discover more destinations: Talara, Ñuro, Sullana, Paita District, Canchaque District, El Alto, Lobitos

For the broader travel overview: Piura.