Tour from Trujillo:Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Sun and Moon Temples, and Dragon Temple
From $91.80
Price varies by group size
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
8 hours (approx.)
Pickup from select hotels
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Overview
Visit Trujillo’s most significant archeological site on a cultural full-day tour of the area’s most atmospheric and astounding ruins. Explore the sacred structures of the Temples of Moche; feast upon local specialties in the coastal town of Huanchaco; and discover South America’s biggest ancient city at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chan Chan. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, enrich your historical knowledge of the region on this exciting archeological excursion.
- Day trip from Trujillo to surrounding archeological sites
- Visit the Temples of Moche — the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon (Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna)
- Admire the detailed adobe friezes at the Temple of the Dragon
- See the famous boats known as caballitos de totora in the beach town of Huanchaco
- Explore Chan Chan, the ancient capital of the Chimú civilization
- Learn about the historical, cultural and religious significance of all the sites from a knowledgeable guide
- Lunch and round-trip transport from Trujillo included
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After hotel pickup in Trujillo, relax during the short drive to your first destination in an air-conditioned minivan. Arrive at the ancient site of the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon, collectively known as the Temples of Moche, and set out to discover the fascinating past of the structures. Learn about the precise architecture and unlikely construction materials used; admire the intricate friezes that decorate the walls; and gain insight into the ceremonial functions of the colossal buildings.
Next, venture to the fearsome Temple of the Dragon to immerse yourself in the captivating customs of the Chimu civilization; admire the pyramid’s detailed depictions of deities before returning to the minivan to travel to the next site.
Take a curvaceous coastal road to the provincial village of Huanchaco, a fishing pueblo famed for its idyllic seaside situation and traditional fishing boats. Learn about the cultural significance of these unique sea vessels then feast upon home cooked regional specialties in an authentic restaurant. Sample sublime seafood and sip refreshing beverages during your meal.
Revitalized, head to the enormous archeological site of Chan Chan, declared the largest ancient city in South America. As the former center of Chimu politics and commerce, the 7-square-mile (18-sq-km) site boasts shrines, cemeteries, ceremonial plazas and reservoirs. Tour all of the significant features with your guide, discovering architectural precision and delving deeper into its ancient history.
Digest your newfound knowledge during to return journey to your Trujillo hotel, where your tour concludes.
Next, venture to the fearsome Temple of the Dragon to immerse yourself in the captivating customs of the Chimu civilization; admire the pyramid’s detailed depictions of deities before returning to the minivan to travel to the next site.
Take a curvaceous coastal road to the provincial village of Huanchaco, a fishing pueblo famed for its idyllic seaside situation and traditional fishing boats. Learn about the cultural significance of these unique sea vessels then feast upon home cooked regional specialties in an authentic restaurant. Sample sublime seafood and sip refreshing beverages during your meal.
Revitalized, head to the enormous archeological site of Chan Chan, declared the largest ancient city in South America. As the former center of Chimu politics and commerce, the 7-square-mile (18-sq-km) site boasts shrines, cemeteries, ceremonial plazas and reservoirs. Tour all of the significant features with your guide, discovering architectural precision and delving deeper into its ancient history.
Digest your newfound knowledge during to return journey to your Trujillo hotel, where your tour concludes.
Itinerary
Your day trip from Trujillo starts with hotel pickup for the 15-minute drive south of town to the Temple of the Sun (Huaca del Sol) and Temple of the Moon (Huaca de la Luna), collectively known as the Temples of Moche (Huacas de Moche).
When you arrive, you'll learn about the Moche people, the civilization that inhabited northern Peru from the 1st to 8th centuries and built the two temples you have come to see. Explore the site with your guide, enjoying close-up views of both temples and learning about their history and significance.
Built out of adobe brick, both the Sun and Moon temples played important roles in the life of the Moche; archeologists think that the stepped Temple of the Sun was used for administrative and military purposes, while the terraced Temple of the Moon provided religious and ceremonial functions. Admire the impressive frescoes that adorn the walls of the Temple of the Moon, and marvel at the size of the Temple of the Sun, which is the bigger of the two.
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Included
Next, continue your day trip to Huaco el Dragon, the Temple of the Dragon, also known as Huaco del Arco Iris, or Temple of the Rainbow. As you enter the site, you’ll be transitioning from the Moche to the Chimú, a civilization that developed in northern Peru around 900 AD, after the Moche died out, and inhabited the region until the Incas came in the 1400s. With your guide, admire the adobe pyramid’s intricate frieze detailing before leaving for your next destination, Huanchaco, about a 20-minute drive west.
Admission Ticket Included
Located on the coast, Huanchaco is a fishing village and beach town known for its caballitos de totora (little reed horses), small boats made out of reed that have been used by fishermen in Peru for 3,000 years. Learn about their interesting history from your guide (there is some debate that these tiny watercraft — ridden like a horse — constituted the first form of riding waves, aka surfing), and then have lunch at a local seafood restaurant.
Admission Ticket Free
After lunch, head to your last stop of the day, the former Chimú capital of Chan Chan. This World Heritage-listed ancient city is South America’s largest pre-Columbian city and was the center of Chimú politics and culture from approximately 900 to 1470, when it was conquered by the Incan Empire. Tour the 7-square-mile (18-sq-km) archeological site with your guide, checking out its shrines, cemeteries, barns, reservoirs and ceremonial plazas. Learn about its structure of adobe brick and mud; marvel at its expansive, walled design; and visit the Nik-An Palace, a complex that features ceremonial courtyards and walls adorned with friezes.
Your day trip ends with hotel drop-off in Trujillo.
Admission Ticket Free
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Tour from Trujillo:Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Sun and Moon Temples, and Dragon Temple
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