Trujillo Shore Excursion: Chan Chan & Huanchaco Tour

Chan Chan, Huaca de la Luna, colonial Trujillo and the reed boats of Huanchaco in one morning

A shore excursion from Salaverry Port that covers the Moche ruins at Huaca de la Luna, the colonial heart of Trujillo, the monumental adobe city of Chan Chan, and the coastal fishing village of Huanchaco, all timed to your ship's arrival and departure. An English-speaking guide leads the route through five to six hours, with entry tickets and air-conditioned transport included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Trujillo's ancient and coastal heritage

• Visit Huaca de la Luna archaeological site
• Tour historic center of Trujillo
• Explore Chan Chan ancient Chimú capital
• Relax and photograph in Huanchaco coastal town

The experience

Huaca de la Luna opens the day: a Moche temple complex in northern Peru's archaeological heartland, where your guide walks you through monumental structures and decorated walls that reveal the beliefs and society of a civilization that flourished centuries before the Inca. The site takes roughly forty-five minutes to explore, and the scale of what the Moche built without metal tools or wheels becomes clear as you move through the temple levels.

From there, the route turns to Trujillo's historic center, where colonial plazas and painted facades line streets that have shaped the cultural identity of Peru's north for centuries. A guided walk through the main monuments takes twenty to thirty minutes, then the day pivots to Chan Chan: the vast adobe capital of the Chimú civilization and one of the coast's most extraordinary archaeological sites. The monumental architecture, built entirely from earth, shows how the Chimú organized labor, water and resources across a city that once rivaled any in the pre-Columbian world. Plan on fifty to sixty minutes here, the highlight of the excursion.

The tour ends in Huanchaco, a working fishing village where caballitos de totora, traditional reed boats, still launch into the Pacific the way they have for generations. You'll have time to walk the beach, photograph the boats and watch the fishermen at work before heading back to the port. The whole day runs five to six hours from pickup to return, built around your ship's schedule so you're never rushed to get back.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• entry to Huaca de la Luna, Chan Chan and Trujillo's colonial center.
• English-speaking guide for the full route.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full-day tour with an English-speaking guideUp to 10 people · No fixed timeFull-day tour led by an English-speaking guide: this journey includes visits to the most popular destinations in Trujillo City. Semi-private: visits are with small groups to ensure a high-quality service. Duration: 5 hours, lasting approximately 5 hours. The journey is arranged around the visitors' availability. Moche and Chimu peoples: we begin with the Moon and Sun Temples. The next stop is the Main Square, and we then continue to Chan Chan sprinter.

Guided in EnglishUp to 15 people · No fixed timeGuided in English

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 (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trébol tours & viajes

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks in the morning or afternoon and you want to cover both pre-Columbian sites (Moche and Chimú ruins) and colonial Trujillo in one excursion with a local English-speaking guide who times the itinerary to your ship's schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

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 Huaca de la Luna and what will I see there?

Huaca de la Luna is a monumental Moche temple complex, one of northern Peru's most important archaeological sites. You'll walk through decorated temple walls and learn how the Moche civilization organized their religious and social life, with your guide explaining the history and beliefs of the people who built it around fifteen hundred years ago.

How much time do I spend at Chan Chan?

Chan Chan gets fifty to sixty minutes of the tour. It's the monumental adobe capital of the Chimú civilization and the highlight of the day: large enough that you'll walk through different sections of the city and see how the architecture reflects their society, religion and traditions.

Will I have time to see Huanchaco's reed boats?

Yes. Huanchaco is the final stop and you'll have roughly thirty minutes there to walk the beach, photograph the caballitos de totora and watch the local fishermen who still use these traditional reed boats to fish the Pacific, just as they have for generations.

Is the tour timed so I can make it back to my ship?

Yes. The entire excursion is scheduled around your cruise ship's arrival and departure times, so the pickup, route and return are all arranged to get you back to Salaverry Port with time to spare before the ship leaves.

What's included in the price?

Entry tickets to all the archaeological sites, air-conditioned transport throughout the day, and an English-speaking guide who leads you through each stop are included. Lunch is not included, so you may want to eat before the tour or bring snacks.