Trujillo archaeological tour from Salaverry: Chan Chan & Huacas

Walk through three civilizations in a single day from the coast

A full-day archaeological tour from Salaverry port visiting the Moche Huacas, Chan Chan UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trujillo's colonial center and the fishing village of Huanchaco. The tour includes certified guides in English, Spanish or French; entrance to all sites; air-conditioned transport; and guaranteed return to the ship on time. Groups stay under 25 travelers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temples of the Sun and Moon1h · entry included
2. Main Square30m
3. Chan Chan1h · entry included

Explore Trujillo archaeological sites and Huanchaco

• Visit Huacas de Moche Complex
• Tour Huaca de la Luna temple
• Admire Plaza de Trujillo main square
• Explore Chan Chan Nik An complex
• Visit Huanchaco fishing village

The experience

Six to seven hours takes you through the North Coast's most significant pre-Columbian sites. The tour opens at Huaca de la Luna, the restored ceremonial center of the Moche civilization (100 AD–800 AD), where you walk through decorated courtyards and the main altar, many sectors painted with reliefs of gods and ritual scenes. The Temple of the Sun stands across the complex, unrestored but visible, giving scale to what the Moche built. From there you move to Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the restored Nik An complex shows how the Chimú empire (1000 AD–1470 AD) organized power through ceremonial squares, administrative sectors and royal mausoleums, all decorated with marine motifs.

The route includes Trujillo's Plaza de Armas in the colonial center, then ends in Huanchaco, a fishing village where locals still use totora boats: reed vessels made the same way for millennia. You watch them on the water or mending nets on the shore, a working landscape most visitors don't see. Air-conditioned transport moves between sites. Bottled water is provided throughout.

Pickup happens at the Port of Salaverry, and the operator guarantees your return to the ship on time. Certified MINCETUR guides lead in English, Spanish or French. All entrance fees are included in the booking price.

What’s included

• Certified guide in English, Spanish or French.
• entrance fees to Huaca de la Luna, Chan Chan and all archaeological sites.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• pickup at the Port of Salaverry with guaranteed return to the ship on time.

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 38 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viajes In Perú

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks at Salaverry and want to see both the Moche ceremonial temples and Chan Chan's adobe city in one day. The fixed schedule syncs with cruise return times, and groups stay under 25 so you move at a steady pace across the sites.

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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 are the Huacas of Moche and what can I actually see there?

The Huacas of Moche are two ceremonial temples built by the Moche civilization between 100 AD and 800 AD. Huaca de la Luna, the restored temple, is open to visitors and features decorated courtyards, a main altar and reliefs painted with representations of gods and religious rites. Huaca del Sol, the Temple of the Sun, stands across the complex but is not restored, so you view it from outside to see its scale and the surrounding city of Los Moches.

Is Chan Chan really the largest adobe city in the Americas?

Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú empire and is the largest adobe city in the Americas. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The tour visits the Nik An complex, which has been restored and shows how the city was organized through ceremonial squares, fish and poultry corridors, administrative sectors decorated with marine motifs, a ceremonial well and royal mausoleum.

What happens in Huanchaco and why is it part of this tour?

Huanchaco is a fishing village where locals continue to fish using totora boats, reed vessels made by hand the same way for thousands of years. The tour includes time to watch the fishermen in their daily activities (sewing nets, fishing or offering rides on their boats) giving you a glimpse of a living tradition that has survived into the modern era.

How much time do I spend at each site, and will I have time to rest?

The tour runs six to seven hours total and covers four main stops: the Huacas of Moche, Chan Chan, Trujillo's colonial center and Huanchaco. The exact time at each site depends on the group's pace and interests, but the itinerary is designed to fit inside a single port call with guaranteed return to the ship on time.