Temples of the Sun and Moon, Chan Chan & Huanchaco: Trujillo tour

Walk through two thousand years of Moche and Chimu civilization in a single afternoon

A full-day tour from Trujillo visits three of northern Peru's most significant archaeological sites: the Temples of the Sun and Moon (Huacas del Sol y de la Luna), the sprawling Chan Chan complex, and the coastal village of Huanchaco. A live guide in English or Spanish leads you through each stop, explaining the Moche and Chimu cultures and their architectural achievements. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours with pickup included and an air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees and lunch are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Temples of the Sun and Moon2h
2. Chan Chan2h
3. Huanchaco1h

Visit ancient temples and coastal town

• Tour Temple of the Sun overview
• Explore Temple of the Moon
• Visit Chan Chan archaeological site
• See artifacts at Chan Chan museum
• Visit Huanchaco Beach and observe boats

The experience

The day starts at the Temples of the Sun and Moon, where your guide walks you through the Huaca de la Luna, the Temple of the Moon, and points out the massive adobe brick construction and the Moche artifacts displayed in the onsite museum. The Temple of the Sun (Huaca del Sol) stands nearby as an overview, and together they make up the Huacas de Moche, the ceremonial center of an ancient civilization that flourished here centuries before the Inca.

From there you move to Chan Chan, a 7-square-mile archaeological site declared the largest ancient city in South America. As the former capital of the Chimu kingdom, it holds shrines, cemeteries, ceremonial plazas and reservoirs spread across the desert. Your guide takes you through the significant features, showing you the precision of the stonework and the layout that once governed politics and trade across the coast. A museum at the site houses artifacts excavated from Chan Chan itself.

The tour ends at Huanchaco Beach, a fishing village known for its surfer culture and the *caballitos de totora*: ancient reed boats that fishermen still build and use today. You'll see these narrow, bundled-reed vessels pulled up on the sand, unchanged in design for over a thousand years. The contrast between the monumental ruins inland and this living tradition at the water's edge closes the day.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup from your accommodation.
• entry to the Temples of the Sun and Moon, Chan Chan, and the onsite museums at both sites.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full day tour with a Spanish-speaking guide10:00Lasts 8 hours; huacas, Chan Chan and Huanchaco are not included; pickup is included in the minivan

Full day tour with an English-speaking guide10:00Minivan

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

Before you book

Lasts 7h–8h, runs Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00, from US$ 27 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (6 to 8 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Mochilea Peru

Is this one for you?Pick the English guide for direct interpretation of Moche and Chimu history, or the Spanish guide if you want to practice the language while you learn.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (6 to 8 years); Infant (under 6): 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 Temples of the Sun and Moon, and what will I see there?

The Temples of the Sun and Moon (Huacas del Sol y de la Luna) are the ceremonial center of the ancient Moche civilization. You'll tour the Temple of the Moon with its adobe brick construction and see Moche artifacts in the onsite museum. The Temple of the Sun stands nearby as an overview of the two-temple complex.

How large is Chan Chan, and what makes it significant?

Chan Chan spans 7 square miles and is the largest ancient city in South America. It was the capital of the Chimu kingdom and contains shrines, cemeteries, ceremonial plazas and reservoirs that show the architectural precision and urban planning of a pre-Inca civilization.

What are the caballitos de totora I'll see at Huanchaco?

The caballitos de totora are ancient reed boats made from bundled totora reeds, still built and used by fishermen at Huanchaco Beach today. They have remained virtually unchanged in design for over a thousand years and represent a living connection to pre-Columbian maritime tradition.

How long does this tour take, and what's included?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup from your hotel, and a live guide in either English or Spanish. Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and lunch are not included and are paid separately.

Can I book this tour if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll be walking through the sites with your guide, but the pace is manageable for most travelers.