Huaca de la Luna & Trujillo Tour: Moche Temples & Colonial Center

Polychrome reliefs painted with Moche gods, rites and human sacrifice cover the restored courtyards of Huaca de la Luna.

A guided tour of Trujillo combines Huaca de la Luna (the restored Moche temple complex with painted ceremonial squares and decorated courtyards), and the colonial heart of the city, including the Plaza de Armas, Casa Urquiaga and the local market. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French. Pickup, transport, water and all entry fees are included. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and suits all fitness levels, though only 20% of Huaca de la Luna is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temples of the Sun and Moon1h · entry included
2. Main Square30m
3. Casa Urquiaga40m

Visit Moche culture and Trujillo center

• Tour Huaca de la Luna temple
• Admire Plaza de Trujillo
• Visit Casa Urquiaga colonial house
• Explore Trujillo Market

The experience

Huaca de la Luna sits at the center of this tour: a former Moche capital restored since 1991 and now the only temple in the complex open to visitors. The site holds two structures, the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon, but the Moon temple is what you walk through: its ceremonial square, main altar and decorated courtyards all carry painted reliefs showing Moche gods, ritual scenes and representations of human sacrifice. The polychrome detail is what makes the site distinct from the adobe mounds you might see elsewhere on Peru's north coast.

After Huaca de la Luna, the tour moves into Trujillo's downtown, where the colonial past and present overlap. You visit the Plaza de Armas with its monument to freedom and colorful period buildings, then Casa Urquiaga (a restored noble's house with lounges, patios and a garden), where Simón Bolívar once stayed. The market visit rounds out the day: it is where you see the vegetables, fruits and everyday goods that move through a working Peruvian city, not a curated version of local life.

An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group between sites. Bottled water is provided, and the guide (speaking your choice of English, Spanish or French) handles all the logistics. Pickup from your hotel is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Guided tour with a live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport between all sites.
• bottled water.
• entrance fees to Huaca de la Luna, the Plaza de Armas and Casa Urquiaga.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 40 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viajes In Perú

Is this one for you?This tour works best if you want both the Moche archaeological sites and Trujillo's colonial history in a single morning, since the fixed route and 4- to 5-hour timeframe fit both into one outing without rushing either stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is inside Huaca de la Luna that I'll see on the tour?

Huaca de la Luna holds a ceremonial square, main altar and decorated courtyards, all covered in painted reliefs showing Moche gods, ritual scenes and human sacrifice. The temple complex was restored starting in 1991 and remains the only part of the two-temple site open to visitors.

How long does the whole tour take and what's the pace like?

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours total, moving between Huaca de la Luna, the Plaza de Armas, Casa Urquiaga and the market. The pace suits all fitness levels, though only 20% of Huaca de la Luna itself is wheelchair accessible.

What's Casa Urquiaga and why is it on the tour?

Casa Urquiaga is a restored colonial house in downtown Trujillo where nobles of the city once lived. It's famous for hosting Simón Bolívar and shows how the upper class lived during the colonial period through its lounges, patios and garden.

What's covered in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes the guide, air-conditioned transport, bottled water and all entrance fees to Huaca de la Luna and the colonial sites. There is an additional charge of 20 USD per person.