Experience – Huanchaco – Trujillo, Peru.
- Location: Huanchaco – Trujillo, Peru (Google Maps)
- Hours: All Day
- Recommended Time: All Day
- How to Arrive: By car
- Distance from Lima: 569 km / 353 miles
- Ideal Month(s): April – September
Huanchaco is a popular vacation beach town in the city of Trujillo, Peru. It’s known for its surf breaks, its caballitos de totora, its ceviche, and its proximity to the ancient ruins of Chan Chan.
Things to do in Huanchaco:
Surfing
Given its cold water and rocky seabed, Huanchaco is not the best surfing on the west coast of Peru. Despite this, residents and travelers in Huanchaco are crazy about surfing. Everyday there are surfers on the main swell, which is located on the right side of the main pier, in addition to being scattered down the coast. There are plenty of places along the Huanchaco beach offering surf lessons every morning and afternoon. There are also many board rental places along the beach, and rentals can be hourly or daily depending on your need. If surfing is your main objective, travelers can take a day trip to Chicama, which is home to the world’s longest waves.
Visit Chan Chan
The Chimu people built an adobe capital called Chan Chan, which was once the largest city in the Americas. Sitting just 10 kilometers south of Huanchaco, this ruined fortress city should be at the top of your to do list. Chan Chan, was invaded and abandoned by the Incas in the 15th century, and then left to erode away.
Visit Huaca del Sol and Huaca de La Luna
South of Trujillo are two pyramids, which were constructed by the Moche, a civilization that reigned along the Peruvian coast from 100 to 800 AD. Centuries older than Chan Chan, these huacas or temples formed the Moche capital city called Cerro Blanco – named for a nearby volcano. Part of the draw to the site is the fact that it was so remarkably preserved through the ages. Huaca de La Luna was entirely buried in sand until excavations began around 20 years ago, while Huaca del Sol, which is located 500 meters away in the desert, remains mostly buried. Despite parts of Huaca del Sol being destroyed by the weather and looters, it is still the biggest pre-Colombian structure in Peru, and the careful restoration of this site gives fascinating insight into an ancient culture.
