Trujillo Things to Do

Situated 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Trujillo, nar the mouth of the River Chicama, this complex is the tourist centre of the Chicama Valley. The ceremonial temple shows evidence of human sacrifice, it being possible to imagine the executioner, while looking at colourful figures of dancers painted on the walls.

Trujillo conserves beautiful colonial houses that were constructed by order of the Spaniards who founded the city, and other colonial houses are from the first years of the creation of the Republic of Peru. While u walk around Trujillo u will find a lot of them.

_Palace Iturregui: Jr Pizarro 688 ; without doubt this house is the most magnificent and beautiful of all the republican mansions-majestic and grand. In it are outlined the most notable characteristics and tastes of a wealthy society. The impresive nature of its decoration, architecture and furniture justify its distinction of being the best private residence in South America.

_The House of Ganoza-Chopitea: Jr Independencia 630. ; with a polychromatic front in the baroque style, crowned by a rococo frontispiece and two lions, is the city's most representative example of Trujillano mansion architecture.

_House of the Marshal of Orbegoso: At Jr. Mariscal Orbegoso 553; this stately mansion, in Vice-regal style, belonged to former President of Peru Marshal Luis Jose Orbegoso.

_Houses of Mayorazgo: Jr Pizarro 314; as old as the city itself, and holding one of Peru's greatest numismatic collections,there are large grilles in its walls and it has a neocolonial corner balcony which enhnaces the facade.

_The House of the Emancipation: Jr Pizarro 621; this is where the Independence of Peru was sworn on 29 December 1820. The symmetry of its patios and general style is typical of republican buildings. Inside there are beautiful rococo murals in tempera representing popular country scenes.

_Calonge House: Jr Pizarro 446, of first quality artistic heritage, the rococo furniture the excellent collection of huacos, imperial style mirrors, china, furnishings and European curios all stand out.

The cost for entering to this houses is very cheap.

Belongs to Moche Culture(100-800 A.C), this temples are located in the "Campiña de Moche" around 5 km from Trujillo (20 minutes approx), in the south of the city. This temples are located just 500m from each other. They were ceremonial centers, especially the temple of the moon, in which people offered sacrifices to their god: Aipaec or "el degollador"
The Temple of the Sun has 6 levels. It is considered the longest pyramid in Peru. It has different levels and at the moment is something deteriorated due to the action of the man and for the time it has. It considers that the Moches used about 140 million of adobes for constructing it. It was used for ceremonial purposes and possibly in administrative functions.
The Temple of the Moon has 9 levels. It is a monument comprised of overlapping temples built during different periods. A tomb was uncovered here, with over 40 sacrificed warriors. Into this temple u can find a large of multi-colored murals, especially the image of Aiapaec and different kind of animals too, like fishes, pelicans, spiders.
In the Campiña of Moche u can find a lot of pictures, cards, handcrafts and many things about this temples. And u can read its history.

Huanchaco is a beautiful beach, located 15 minutes from Trujillo. The caballitos de totora, rafts woven from the totora reed in an art that has been handed down over generations. Similar skill is shown by the surfing crowd, which year after year gather in the port of Malabrigo. A surfing championship is staged here every March and local beaches feature the world`s longest waves.
This beautiful place throughout the year enjoys a privileged climate and an animated "Tourist Calendar". Winter particularly , it becomes a peace backwater where the visitor can enjoy the spectacle of the regatas in the caballitos of totoras, the championships of surfing, gastronomy, modern and confortable hotels and a shining sun; n u can find here a lot of handcranfts too, not in vain the Ministry of Tourism has described it like "national Tourist Center".
U can visit delicias beach, pacasmayo, pimentel.. they are nice too.
The best time is in Summer between December and March

Visiting Chan Chan : Located in the valley of Moche, to 5 km of the city and 10 minutes approx. in car. THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRE-HISPANIC MUD-BRICK CITADEL, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In the ancient Mochica language Chan Chan means sun-sun.
It spands an area of 20 square km.
The complex is made of many cities within a city. Each one has its own single entrance and leads down a corridor that opens into other passageways lining walls and buildings. Featuring some marvelous rectangular architecture: such as inner patios, residences, administrative buildings, temples, platforms and storehouses. The walls are decorated with haut-relief friezes done in geometric and animal figures (fishes, pelicans, etc)
It has its museum, where u can see more about it.
The "fenomeno del Niño" had deteriorated this wonderful monument but in despite of it, it still being one of the most visited archeological sites here in Peru.

The Ventanas Trujillana (the Trujillian Windows) you can see to the left (The white constructions outside the walls with rhombic pattern. These type of windows with metal fences is caracteristic for Trujillo and I have no better pictures(!) They were highest fashion at the end of XVIII century.)

Not a very nice beach but worth the visit if you have time in Trujillo. Dirty beach and the water is typically to cold to swim in but there are a lot of surfers out there.

Good place to buy cheap souvenirs and to eat picaronas (sp?) kinda like donuts in a syrup/honey made from figs (ego) and pappa reynas (sp?) a potato dish and ceviche of course.

Chan Chan holds the large adobe (mud brick) wall in the world which comes from the Chimu (pre Inca) empire.

It's worth your while to hire one of the tour guides that charge $10 USD (you can split it w/ other tourist).

I went with an a old man named Jose and he was excellent. He has been working there since 1968 and excellent English and knows the place inside out.