Trujillo in a Day: Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Sun and Moon Temples, and Dragon Temple | 8 hours

14 Reviews | Trujillo
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Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: Portuguese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Overview

See Trujillo’s most important archeological sites on one big day trip that includes temples from both the Moche and Chimú cultures. Start at the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon, which together make up the site known as the Temples of Moche. Then see the Temple of the Dragon (aka Temple of the Rainbow), and visit the coastal town of Huanchaco for lunch. Finally, experience the biggest ancient city in South America — Chan Chan — a UNESCO World Heritage site. During it all, learn about the history and cultural significance of these sites from an experienced guide.

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Itinerary

  • La Huaca del Sol

    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.

    1 hour

  • Huaca Arco-Iris or Huaca El Dragon

    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.

  • Playa Varadero - Huanchaco

    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.

  • Chan Chan

    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.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Non Refundable

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Reviews

4.3

14 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    10
  • 4 stars
    2
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    2

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 10 reviews with 5 stars

Although the Temple of...

Published on Nov, 2023

Although the Temple of the Dragon was closed, the rest of the tour was great. Everything tied together so it is impossible to pick only one. And our guide was very knowledgeable on the representations pictured on each site, how the sites were used and the history of each location.

A great tour of Moche and Chimu sites

Published on Sep, 2023

My son and I had a wonderful day with Oscar. He was very enthusiastic about the history of Peru and this made for an interesting and informative tour. We highly recommend both the tour and definitely Oscar!

Dive into pre-Incan civilization

Published on Jun, 2022

This tour is a great intro to two pre-Incan civilizations that are virtually unknown outside of Peru. Plus a side trip to Huanchaco and an excellent seaside lunch. Our guide was very knowledgeable and his enthusiasm was very contagious. Great tour!

Amazing ruins

Published on Mar, 2020

I loved this tour. We had a very knowledgeable guide, Jose, who took us around the amazing temple of the moon. It was almost empty. I'm surprised there weren't more tourists. The wall decorations are just I really wasn't expecting it to be so good. The temple of the sun is not open to the public. The museum was good though I don't understand the need to ban all photography. It seems like overkill. We stopped at a small workshop making the pottery. The temple of the dragon was great but very small. Lunch was surprisingly good at Huanchaco with a view over the ocean. Finally we visited Chan Chan. The site is enormous so you only see one small part which is open to the public. It is so beautiful. The designs are as beautiful today as they would have been 1000 years ago. Unfortunately some of the areas are closed to the public which is a real shame since I think they need to keep creating a buzz for this place.

The guide was punctual...

Published on Dec, 2017

The guide was punctual, enthusiastic, well-informed and her English was excellent. The various sites were amazing, and a very interesting contrast to the better-known Inca ruins.

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