Desert pyramids and adobe cities

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A July 2000 trip to Trujillo by jurgen

Huaca del Sol Photo - Huaca del Sol y la Luna, Trujillo, Peru

Quote: Trujillo is surrounded by some great archealogical sites. Like the pyramids of the sun and the moon and the ruined adobe city "Chan Chan".

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Desert pyramids and adobe cities

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Overview

Quote:

About an eight hour drive over the Panamerican Highway, 560 kilometers north of Lima is the city of Trujillo. It is a large city with about 750,000 inhabitants, but without the big city traffic. It's a nice city in the middle of the coastal dessert of Peru. In the old centre you'll find beautiful colonial buildings and a white cathedral on Plaza de Armas. Nearby Trujillo you'll find the coastal town of Huanchaco where you can enjoy the beaches of the Pacific. But the main attractions of Trujillo are the adobe city of Chan Chan and the Huaca de la Luna and the Huaca del Sol (Sun and Moonpyramid), built by the Moche and Chimu cultures.Quick Tips: If interested in archeology, stay some days in T...Read More

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Naylamp

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Hotel

Hostal Naylamp Photo - Naylamp, Trujillo, Peru

Quote:

This small hostel is located at the end of the ocean boulevard of Huanchaco. It's cheap, but it is also clean. Not all rooms have private showers, but they all do have a private toilet. The rooms are located around a small courtyard with some trees. The place is really relaxed and seems to be popular among surfers (the waves are great here!).

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 11, 2000

Naylamp
Av.Victor Larco
Trujillo, Peru
(044) 461022

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Chan Chan

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Attraction

Chan Chan Photo - Chan Chan, Trujillo, Peru

Quote:

Near Trujillo is the ruined city Chan Chan. This entire city was build out of clay (adobe) by the Chimu Empire in 1300AD. It is the largest adobe city in the world and it housed 50000 people at the height of the Chimu Empire. The Incas left the city undisturbed after they conquered it. But the Spaniards looted the city, and today there is nothing left of it's old glory. When you first arrive to the place it seems to be nothing more than piles of clay, and you need a lot of imaginasion to see the city. Centuries of rain and floods have eroded the city severely. But when you move on you'll find a restauranted part of town. Tickets can be bought at the small museum on the road from Trujillo to Huanchaco....Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 11, 2000

Chan Chan
Between Trujillo and Huanchaco
Trujillo, Peru

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Huaca del Sol y la Luna

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Attraction | "Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del Sol"

Huaca de la Luna Photo - Huaca del Sol y la Luna, Trujillo, Peru

Quote:

From a distance they look like pyramid-shaped mountains in an open desert plain, but when you come closer you'll see that they are man-made. The Moche culture created these pyramids. The largest of the two pyramids is the Huaca del Sol; it used to be about 45 meters in height. The two pyramids were built out of adobe brick and were used for religious ceremonies. It is believed that thousands of people--probably enemies from other coastal communities--were sacrified in very cruel ceremonies there. You can enter the Huaca de la Luna; the entrance fee is 5 sol. There is not much left to see here, but it is still worth the 5 sol.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 11, 2000

Huaca del Sol y la Luna
near Las Delicias Beach
Trujillo, Peru

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Huanchaco

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Story/Tip

Quote:

Some 15 kilometers from Trujillo is the small village of Huanchaco. In winter (Peruvian summer), this is a popular beach resort. In summer, it's deserted. The weather in summer is very grey. Little sun, a lot of clouds and fog. But still, it can be very pleasant to breath the ocean air or to have a dive in the cool Pacific waters. If you like surfing, this is a good place. The waves here are very good. In Huanchaco there are a lot of small hostels and restaurants. But a lot of them are closed in summer. In this little fishing village one can get good seafood; one example of a good place to go is Lucha del Mar.