The region was home to the ancient pre-Incan civilizations of Moche (ca. 200 BC-850 AD), Lambayeque/Sicán (ca. 750-1375 AD) and Chimú (ca. 850-1470 AD). An incredible wealth of remains and artifacts displayed in truly grand museums and ruins dating back thousands of years make this region well worth getting off the beaten path.
The colonial streets of the ancient city of Trujillo have long inspired poets and political activists and feature a wealth of churches and beautiful colonial buildings. But most visitors come drawn by the spectacular ruins just outside the city.
The ruins of Chan Chan, the capital of the rich Chimú civilization, were once the largest adobe city in the world and the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and are thought to have housed 60,000 inhabitants at its peak. Exploring the labyrinth of passageways and ceremonial courtyards, with adobe friezes depicting waves of fish and seabirds, one gets a deep sense of the ancient world.
The nearby Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and Moon) were home to the Moche culture and despite being over 1,500 years old, they display surprisingly well-preserved, multi-layered polychrome friezes in striking natural colors.
Built over centuries and different reigns, and still undergoing restoration and cleaning, the temples aim to tell the intriguing story of a civilization’s history. The El Brujo archaeological complex, once home to the area’s oldest civilization and later occupied by the Moche, is a must-see for history and archaeology lovers.
For some beach time, visit the nearby town of Huanchaco, home of the legendary ancient totora boat “Caballito de Tortora,” considered to be the precursor to surfing and still used today by local fishermen. Fresh ceviches from local restaurants are a delight on warm days. The distant but famous Puerto Chicama is a hot spot for surfers, offering one of the longest waves in the world.
Chiclayo is known for its long history of buried treasure and extraordinary riches, and is surrounded by Moche and Chimú tombs and temples that once housed incredible artifacts. Don’t miss the Moche Royal Tomb of Sipán, which was discovered by archaeologists only in 1987 but was first looted by huaqueros (temple robbers). Still, much of the site was untouched when archaeologists began excavating, leaving hundreds of amazing artifacts in its fascinating state-of-the-art museum.
This is one of many local sites where excavations are still underway and there is still much to discover. Famous for its culinary tradition, don’t miss the local cuisine – northern gastronomy is a highlight for Peruvians themselves.
