Bike tour Trujillo: Chan Chan and Huanchaco beach

Pedal through mud-brick palaces and reach the Pacific in one morning

A guided bike tour through Trujillo follows the historic Moche Route to Chan Chan, the largest mud city in America, then continues to Huanchaco beach to see the totora horses. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours with a Spanish-speaking guide, includes the bike and equipment, and suits travelers with moderate fitness who want history and activity combined. Children from age 10 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bike tour along Moche Route

• Bike along historic Moche Route
• Visit Chan Chan mud city
• Enjoy Huanchaco beach and totora horses

The experience

You start on a bicycle and follow the Moche Route, a path through Trujillo that connects the region's most significant archaeological sites. Chan Chan rises first: a sprawling citadel built entirely of mud brick by the Chimú culture, the largest of its kind in the Americas. The guide explains the construction and the civilization that built it while you move through the site on foot, then return to the bike for the ride to the coast.

The route ends at Huanchaco beach, where totora horses (traditional reed boats that fishermen still use) sit on the sand. The tour includes bottled water, coffee or tea, and a bike suited to the terrain. A guide in Spanish leads the group and handles any mechanical issues that arise. The pace is active but manageable for anyone with moderate fitness. The total time on the bike and at the sites runs between 2 and 3 hours.

What’s included

• Bicycle and helmet.
• bottled water.
• coffee and tea.
• Spanish-speaking guide.
• private transportation between sites.
• technical bike service.

Options for this experience

10 options

Chan Chan tour 1Guide in Spanish · No fixed timeRigid bike tour covering a 20 km route over 2 hours, with coffee and water, through the citadel of Chan Chan on a bicycle.

Moche Valley tour 1Guide in Spanish · No fixed timeBicycle tour covering a 25 km route over 3 hours, comprising 1 hour of transfer and 2 hours of touring, with coffee and water through the Moche Valley. The tour is conducted on a rigid bicycle.

Chan Chan tour 2Guide in Spanish · No fixed timeBicycle tour covering 20 km over a duration of 2 hours, with coffee and water, through the citadel of Chan Chan. The tour is conducted on a double suspension bike.

See 7 more options

Moche Valley tour 2Guide in Spanish · No fixed timeBicycle tour through the Moche Valley over 3 hours, with coffee and water, on a double suspension bike.

Tour chan chanGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeBicycle tour covering 20 km over a duration of 2 hours, with coffee and water, through the citadel of Chan Chan. The route is taken on an electric bike, which is a double suspension bicycle.

Moche Valley tour 3Guide in Spanish · No fixed timeBicycle tour covering 25 km over 3 hours, with coffee and water through the Moche Valley. The tour is done on an electric bike with double suspension.

XC Rally sports tourGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeSports tour covering 35 km through the Moche Valley, pushing for your maximum effort, over 3 hours: 2 hours of touring and 1 hour of transfers, with coffee and water. The tour follows the routes and paths of the Moche Valley sports area. It is done on high-end double suspension bikes, chosen with your safety and comfort in mind.

XC marathon sports tourGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeSports tour covering 80 km through the Moche Valley over 5 hours: 1 hour of transfer and 4 hours of touring, with coffee and water. The tour visits the trails of the Moche Valley and the different communities there, on double suspension bikes.

Enduro sports tourGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeSports tour along Inca roads in the town of Poroto, where pineapple is grown, over 3 hours: 1 hour of transfer and 2 hours of touring, with coffee and water. The tour is on an enduro route, taken on electric bicycles, in the town of Poroto, which grows pineapple.

2D sports enduro tourGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeA 2-day, 1-night tour featuring a wine tasting and an enduro sports tour of the enduro routes of the cities of Poroto and Cascascas, lasting 5 hours in total: a 2-hour tour on day 1 and a 3-hour tour on day 2. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with food and drinks covered. In Frijoles and Conchas, 30 km is covered in each city along the circuits, crossing vineyards and pineapple crops, for a total of 60 km. For your convenience, the tour is taken on high-end electric bikes.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (26 to 70 years) · Youth (16 to 25 years) · Child (10 to 15 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Palo Santo Sport

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to cover Trujillo's main archaeological sites without spending a full day in a van. The bike keeps the pace active and the stops focused, so you see Chan Chan and reach the beach in a morning.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 25 years); Child (10 to 15 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Chan Chan and why is it worth seeing on a bike tour?

Chan Chan is the largest mud-brick citadel in the Americas, built by the Chimú culture centuries ago. The bike tour reaches it directly along the Moche Route, so you cover the distance efficiently and arrive with energy to explore the site and hear the guide explain its history and construction.

What are totora horses and where do I see them?

Totora horses are traditional boats made from bundled reeds that fishermen in Huanchaco have used for generations and still use today. The tour ends at Huanchaco beach, where you'll see them lined up on the sand and learn how they work.

How fit do I need to be for this bike tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The ride covers the Moche Route over 2 to 3 hours with stops at Chan Chan and the beach, so you'll be cycling and walking, but the pace is designed for active travelers rather than athletes.

What's included in the bike tour price?

The tour includes the bicycle, bottled water, coffee or tea, a Spanish-speaking guide, and technical service if the bike needs adjustment. Private transportation is also included to move between stops.