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Trujillo in a Day: Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Sun and Moon Temples, and Dragon Temple
Trujillo, Peru
- 8 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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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
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
09:00 AM
Pickup details
Pick up from hotels, airbnb or home. Feel free to choose your pick up point.
What To Expect
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.
La Huaca del Sol
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Huaca Arco-Iris or Huaca El Dragon
Admission Ticket Included
Playa de Huanchaco
Admission Ticket Free
Chan Chan
Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Operated by VIPAC Travel
Cancellation Policy
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.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
14 reviews
Betty_T, 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.
CaroleZ_L, 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!
Obie_P, Dec 2022
Really enjoyed this tour, so much to learn about! Had a good English speaking guide that was pretty knowledgeable, and the van driver was excellent (important in this city). Such great sites to see! Recommended!
JB_V, 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!
Garrad_W, 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.
Leo M, 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.
Keith V, Dec 2017
Do not do this combined tour! A waste of your money! This was a very expensive package and we do not feel that we got our moneys worth.
The morning started with a visit to a local vendor to quickly learn how pottery is made and then we were taken to his onsite gift shop before leaving the property. When we arrived our guide had to bang the gate several times while shouting his name to get his attention we think he was still asleep when we arrived. Considering we spent the day visiting ruins made with clay bricks it would have been more interesting to watch the other vendor that we noticed at the back of the same property actually making clay bricks as opposed to the vendor telling us how pottery is made.
Definitely seeing Temple of the Moon and Sun which you do not actually visit and Chan Chan were hi-lights. The description for the standalone tour to the temples indicates that both temples will be visited, but when everything is combined as the Archeological Tour we only got to visit the Temple of the Moon and then view the Temple of the Sun from a distance.
Temple of the Dragon was a disappointment as we were only there for 10 minutes and then left. Not much to see as part of it is closed due to the rains earlier in the year and there was a lot of driving required to get to this site.
Lunch in Huanchaco was excellent! However, the tour guide provided us with a customer satisfaction survey at lunch and then watched as we completed it and then read it as we sat there. Very uncomfortable and we were not given an opportunity to provide our honest feedback.
We saw the beach and were shown the reed boats quickly with little to no explanation as to their history/historical importance.
Very basic information provided at most of the sites including the museum we could have read the same information ourselves. Not a lot of value added information provided by the guide.
Very disappointed!!!
Lise_J, Feb 2017
This tour was fabulous! We added Trujillo to our travel plans because we'd read about Chan Chan and wanted to include it in our list of ruins, but this tour added some other ruins that were truly spectacular. The temple of the moon is really something, you can see original painting on the parts of the temple walls that have been exposed and it's just incredible. Our guide was great, he took us around the museums and explained a lot more about the artifacts than was available in the Cusco museums. He took photos for us the restaurant we went to for lunch was much better than we expected. Henry made recommendations for items on the menu that were quite tasty. This tour is worth adding to a trip to Peru.
Leonie M, Feb 2016
Absolutely worth the effort if you are truly interested in pre- colombian history
Tamara S. E, Sep 2015
You gave us a lousy guide who merely repeated the information we could read at the site by ourselves. This was a very expensive taxi ride!
From $129.00
Price varies by group size
-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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Current
Trujillo in a Day: Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Sun and Moon Temples, and Dragon Temple
14
8 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$129.00
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