Trujillo archaeological tour: Moche temples, Chan Chan, Huanchaco

A journey through millennia of Peruvian history, timed to your ship

A guided tour of Trujillo's main archaeological sites (the Temples of the Sun and Moon, Chan Chan, the Plaza de Armas and Huanchaco) customized to fit your cruise ship schedule. The operator coordinates directly with you before the tour to set a pickup time that works with your arrival, so the day runs from the moment you step off the ship to when you need to be back at the dock. An English-speaking guide leads the group through the Moche museum, walks the massive Chan Chan site, and finishes at the fishing village of Huanchaco.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Main Square30m · entry included
2. Chan Chan1h 10m · entry included
3. Huanchaco1h · entry included

Explore Trujillo's ancient sites and beach

• Visit Huacas de Moche Museum
• Tour Temples of the Sun and Moon
• See Main Square and Historical Center
• Explore Chan Chan archaeological site
• Visit Chan Chan museum inside site
• Relax at Huanchaco Beach

The experience

The tour starts at the Huacas de Moche Museum, where your guide walks you through Moche artifacts (ceramics, tombs, utensils) before heading to the temples themselves. The Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) is the main stop. The Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) you see from a distance. Both are part of the same ancient complex built by the Moche people, and the guide explains what they meant to that civilization and why they still stand after two millennia.

From there the tour moves to Trujillo's Plaza de Armas, the colonial heart of the city, where the architecture and painted buildings show the Spanish period layered over the indigenous one. Then comes Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. A seven-square-mile site that was the center of Chimu politics and trade. You walk through shrines, cemeteries, ceremonial plazas and reservoirs with your guide, who points out the architectural precision and explains how the city worked. A smaller museum inside Chan Chan holds wooden idols, ceramics and metal objects found on the site.

The day ends at Huanchaco, a fishing village on the coast known for its surfer culture and the *caballitos de totora*: reed boats that fishermen have used for centuries and still use today. It's a shift from the archaeological sites to a living part of Trujillo's present. The whole route is covered in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the guide speaks English or Spanish depending on the group.

What’s included

• All entrance fees and taxes to the archaeological sites and museums.
• transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel or port pickup timed to your cruise schedule.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30, 10:00 and 11:00

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.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Mochilea Peru

Is this one for you?If your guide speaks English, you'll follow the commentary without strain: the operator confirms the language before pickup. This tour works for cruise passengers because the pickup time is set directly with you, not locked into a fixed departure, so a late arrival or an early ship departure doesn't wreck the plan.

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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 exactly is the Temple of the Moon, and what will I see there?

The Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) is one of two massive adobe temples built by the Moche people around 100–800 AD. You'll tour the temple structure itself and see the intricate murals and architectural details that survive on the site, plus learn from your guide about Moche religious practices and daily life.

How big is Chan Chan, and what's there to walk through?

Chan Chan covers seven square miles and was the capital of the Chimu Empire before the Inca conquered it. On the tour you walk through ceremonial plazas, shrines, cemeteries and reservoirs, and your guide explains how the city was organized and what each section was used for.

Will I have time to see the colonial center of Trujillo?

Yes. The Plaza de Armas, Trujillo's main square, is a stop on the tour. You'll see the colonial architecture and painted buildings that make up the historical center.

What are the caballitos de totora I keep hearing about?

The caballitos de totora are small boats made from bundled totora reeds, used by fishermen in Huanchaco for centuries. You'll see them at Huanchaco beach at the end of the tour. They're still in use today, not just a museum piece.

How does the pickup time work if my ship arrives late?

You contact the operator directly through the booking platform, email or WhatsApp before your tour date to confirm the best pickup time based on your actual arrival. The operator coordinates with you to set the earliest time that works, so the tour fits between your disembarkation and your ship's departure.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not part of this tour. The four to five hours cover the archaeological sites, museum, plaza and beach, but you'll need to arrange a meal separately or bring something with you.