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The Motupe district was created in the time of Independence, probably on February 12, 1821.

Its capital is the city of Motupe, located between the river of its name and its tributary the Chotaque river, at 129 m.a.s.l. and 78.5 km. North of the city of Chiclayo; It was elevated to the category of town on September 19, 1898 and to that of city, on October 25, 1955, by Law 12419.

It is considered that its name comes from the voices ´´motu´´ (place) and ´´pe´´ (blunt). It is also thought that the original settlement would have been where the ruins of Apurlec remain today, abandoned before the arrival of the Spanish. It is said that the Cacique Consi de Motupe collaborated with the conquerors. The Spanish foundation is not well determined, believing that it was on February 5, 1570.

Motupe is a determined and combative people; adhered to Iturregui's pronouncement, highlighting the participation of the Creole -Juan José del Castillo- He also resisted and fought against the Chileans. In 1894. Motupe gave his determined support to the uprising of Colonel Augusto Seminario Vacones, whose contingent of Lambayecans marched south, defeating the government troops in Guadalupe and Trujillo, being defeated in Cajamarca.

The picturesque main square of Motupe, perhaps the most peculiar in the department, is shaded by robust tamarind, cypress, palm and ficus trees, beautiful jasmine, chopsticks, arabisks and other plants, which shade and refresh the environment. In this cozy place, the visitor or the local can rest in its spacious and comfortable benches, contemplating the small bridges, water fountains, the cart (old means of transport) and the aged alligator that calm and resigned barely moves in his garden jail .



The district of Motupe is located in the central and eastern part of the Lambayeque province, far from the sea and closer to the Andes, within the Chala natural region. Its limits are: to the North and West, with the district of Olmos; to the East, with those of Salas and Chóchope; to the South, with those of Jayanca and Salas.



In Motupe the famous wooden cross of Guayacán is located; located in a cave on Cerro Chalpón, known as Cruz de Motupe and whose festival is celebrated on February 5 (1/2 year) and August 5 of each year. On these occasions, Motupe receives a large number of pilgrims and tourists, attracted by the fame of this cross. They are the most important festivity and religious sanctuary in the department.

On the other hand, the Motupe community has a long tradition of fighting in defense of their lands, against the usurpations of the La Viña farm and others. At the end of the last century, the burning of fences carried out by the Motupano community members to recover the lands that the Delgado family had been usurping them, in the Puerta de Pellejo sector; The brave Motupana peasant women participated in this action, among them Josefa Castillo (´´Cherafa´´) and Josefa Rodríguez Uñarte (´´Mogollona´´), along with community members such as Anselmo Prada and others. In 1918 and 1920, they defend their lands against the La Viña farm; in 1931, against the Montero family; in 1984 and 1985, they again mobilized against other attempts at usurpation.

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