Chavin National Museum

The Chavín National Museum is a modern building that displays ancient artifacts, stone sculptures, and ceremonial objects from the pre-Columbian Chavín civilization. The collection includes tools, pottery, and ritual ornaments that reveal the technical skills and trading wealth of this ancient culture.

The facility was built through Peruvian-Japanese cooperation and received the Tello Obelisk in 2008, a significant artifact that had been separated from its original region for 63 years. This event marked the return of one of the most important works of Chavín culture to its ancestral home.

The collection displays carved stone heads with intense expressions that reflect the spiritual beliefs and artistic abilities of the Chavín people. These works reveal how visitors understood the connection between humans and the natural world in their religious practices.

The museum sits 2 kilometers from the archaeological site and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00. Guided tours in multiple languages are available to help visitors fully understand the collections.

The museum displays elaborate stone carvings featuring caimans and wild animals that demonstrate the advanced sculpting techniques of the Chavín culture. These artworks combine realistic details with spiritual symbolism in ways that still surprise visitors today.

Location: Ancash Department

Inception: July 18, 2008

Official opening: July 18, 2008

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 09:00-17:00

Phone: +5143454011

Email: museonacionalchavin@cultura.gob.pe

GPS coordinates: -9.57669,-77.17750

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:06