During a private tour, travelers explore ruins left by the ancient Moche people. Dating from the first to the eighth centuries, the complex is divided into three temples: Huaca Cao Viejo, Huaca Partida, and Huaca Prieta. Huaca Cao Viejo is notable because the interior artwork remains in its original state. Undiscovered until 1990, these ruins, with colorful paintings and murals, have been preserved by dry coastal desert sands for more than 1,500 years.
El Brujo Archaeological Complex is located in the Chicama Valley, 37 miles (60 kilometers) from Trujillo, from which many tours depart; expect a drive of just over an hour.
El Brujo is open year-round, daily from 9am until 5pm. To beat the crowds, arrive early as possible in the morning.
The on-site museum at El Brujo is dedicated to a female mummy local archeologists excavated in 2006 and named Lady of Cao. Scientists found her in an extremely well-preserved state, wrapped in 26 layers of cloth, and surrounded by extravagant jewelry and weapons. The significant and symbolic pieces of gold on her body are believed to signify that the Lady of Cao was one of few governesses to reign in the Moche Empire.