Trujillo tour: Temple of the Dragon, Chan Chan, Huanchaco

Three Chimú sites in one day: from desert pyramid to the biggest ancient city in South America.

A private tour of Trujillo visits the Temple of the Dragon, the archaeological complex of Chan Chan, and the coastal village of Huanchaco over eight hours with a professional guide, hotel pickup and lunch. The tour includes entry to both major sites and time to see the adobe frescoes at the Temple of the Moon in the Moche Valley, plus a museum visit to view Mochica pottery and artifacts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Chan Chan2h · entry included
2. Temples of the Sun and Moon2h · entry included

Explore Trujillo and Archaeological Sites

• Visit Trujillo city mansions and churches
• Tour National University Archaeology Museum
• Stop at Temple of the Dragon
• Visit Chan Chan archaeological complex
• Explore Pyramids of the Sun and Moon
• See artifacts at Huacas de Moche museum
• Visit Huanchaco fishermen’s cove

The experience

How do you fit three major archaeological sites into one day without rushing? This tour strings them together in sequence: the Temple of the Dragon first, then Chan Chan's sprawling 18-square-kilometer complex of plazas, shrines, water reservoirs and ceremonial grounds, and finally Huanchaco's fishing cove where locals still use totora reed boats. A professional guide handles the route and the history, and hotel pickup means you don't arrange transport yourself.

The Temple of the Dragon is an adobe pyramid with frieze murals. The guide explains what you're looking at as you walk through. Chan Chan is the bigger stop: the former capital of the Chimú empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll explore the Nik-An Palace in the southwestern section, moving through its network of plazas and storage areas. The guide contextualizes what survives and what archaeologists have uncovered. Huanchaco comes last, a working fishing village where you can watch or photograph the distinctive reed boats that have been built and used the same way for centuries.

The tour also includes a visit to the Moche Valley, where you meet a family descended from the ancient Mochica culture and see the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. The Temple of the Moon has adobe frescoes still visible on its walls. The site museum displays pottery, tools and tombs from the Mochica period. Trujillo's colonial center rounds out the day: mansions, churches and the Museum of Archaeology at the National University. Lunch is included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and one additional language.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or another language.
• entrance fees to the Temple of the Dragon, Chan Chan, the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and the site museum.
• lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VIPAC Travel

Is this one for you?The eight-hour day involves moderate walking through open archaeological sites with limited shade, so an early start and comfortable shoes matter. Choose this tour if you want to see multiple Chimú and Moche sites in one itinerary rather than spreading them across separate days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is the Temple of the Dragon, and what makes it different from Chan Chan?

The Temple of the Dragon, also called the Temple of the Rainbow, is a single adobe pyramid decorated with frieze murals. Chan Chan is an entire ancient city covering 18 square kilometers, built by the Chimú empire as their capital. The tour visits both, but Chan Chan is the larger archaeological complex with plazas, shrines, storage areas and the Nik-An Palace.

Do I see the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon on this tour, or only the Temple of the Dragon?

You see both. The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon are in the Moche Valley, a separate stop on the itinerary where you also visit the site museum and meet a local family. The Temple of the Dragon is your first stop before Chan Chan.

How much walking is involved at each site?

The tour involves moderate walking through the archaeological complexes and plazas at Chan Chan and the Moche Valley sites. The exact distance depends on which areas the guide chooses to explore, but the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the operator.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not included, so you may want to bring water or purchase drinks separately during the day.

What's the best time of day to book this tour?

The tour runs eight hours total and includes hotel pickup, so the timing depends on when your hotel can arrange the pickup. The itinerary covers Trujillo's downtown, the Temple of the Dragon, Chan Chan, the Moche Valley sites and Huanchaco, ending with drop-off back at your hotel.