Restored ruins in one of the palaces of Chan Chan
Covering some 20 square kilometers of desert between Trujillo and the Pacific Ocean, the adobe city of Chan Chan was constructed by the Chimor civilization starting around 850 AD.
This was about the same time the Moche civilization, which created Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del Sol, went into decline.
Chan Chan was inhabited until 1470 AD when it was conquered by the Incas.
One of the typically bleak and bland views within Chan Chan
Restored adobe walls in Chan Chan mimic the look of distant mountains
While Chan Chan may hold the coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site status, I found it to be far less interesting than the mountaintop ruins of Kuelap, and colorful Huaca de la Luna.
That said, the sheer scale of the city does leave one in awe.
During my tour, we walked around the Tschudi Complex. It was immense in and of itself, yet it is just one of a dozen palaces within the entire city.
This natural reservoir was the only spot of color during my visit to Chan Chan
What You Need to Know
You can visit Chan Chan as a 1/2 day trip, or like me, bundle it with a visit to Huaca de la Luna y Huaca del Sol in the morning. The pricing below is based on the full day trip.
How Much: $30 + tip ($16.50 for transport/guide, $1 for museum entrance, $3.50 for ticket to ruins, $5.50 for lunch, $3.50 for entrance to Chan Chan)
Difficulty: Easy
Where to Book: Tours are easy to arrange through any of the offices located around Trujillo’s main plaza. If you’re not fluent in Spanish, make sure you’re getting an English-speaking guide.
What to Bring: Camera, sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen. There are plenty of vendors from which to buy snacks and water along the way.
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Dave's 160-page, all-original Lima Travel Guide is available for Kindle.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- World Nomads for travel insurance.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
- Rail Europe for train passes.
