Trujillo Tours, Travel and Adventures
Tourism in Peru

VISIT TRUJILLO

Trujillo city is proximity to important ruins of Chimu, which is the world’s largest city built out of adobe Chan-chan, also known as “City of the Moon” or “of the Long Walls”. Other nearby ruins are the Moche ruins of Huaca del Sol, Huaca de la Luna, and El Brujo.

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TRUJILLO

The capital city of La Libertad is also called “the Capital City of the Marinera” because of its famous dance contests and skilled dancers –men and women of all ages with the rhythm of the dance pulsing in their veins–. Trujillo has plenty to offer for lovers of music, architecture and archeology.

No other city in Peru has mansions as lovely as Trujillo does. Its downtown is full of splendid examples of Colonial and Republican (19th century) architecture. Stunningly pastel colored, huge and luxurious mansions are decked out with magnificent balconies, elegant portals and spacious entryways, though their distinctiveness is seen in striking windows that are adorned on the outside with decorative iron bars.

 Like few capital cities, Trujillo places everything at your fingertips. It could even be said that several smaller cities coexist within the same geographic space: exquisite sections with Colonial architecture, other quarters with discreet touches of modernity, as well as a scattering of regal archeological sites such as Chan Chan, the largest pre-Hispanic mud city (15 square miles).

 At short distance from Trujillo, two temple mounds lay: Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and of the Moon), the former being the biggest mud pyramid in Peru and the latter exhibiting drawings of its principal gods on the walls. Also, north of the city lies the El Brujo (The Wizard), an archeological complex that safeguarded the mummy of a female ruler, the Governess of Cao, whose spider and snake tattoos drawn on her arms have amazed the world.

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Places to visit in Trujillo

• The Cathedral.  Built in 1666, it houses precious works of art, in particular paintings from the Cusco School and a collection of religious sculptures.
 
• Church and Monastery of Mount Carmel.  Built in 1759, it is one of the finest examples of architecture in the city. There, you can visit its picture gallery featuring a vast collection of paintings from the Quito and Flemish Schools.
 
• Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.  It dates back to the 18th century. A Baroque building which includes some masterpieces like its upper altar, multi-colored shrines and an attractive, wooden carved pulpit.
 
• Home of the Mayorazgo de Facala (Facala estate house). Highlights here include a rather large inner patio with an ancient well, beautiful wooden columns, wide windows covered with iron bars and a corner balcony of Mudéjar style. An incredibly valuable coin collection is also kept in there.
 
• Ganoza Chopitea House or House of the Lions.  For many experts, this house is the most representative in the entire city of Trujillo. Its Baroque portal is accentuated by the multi-colored shades and by a Rococo pediment portraying two lion sculptures.
 
• Calonge or Urquiaga House.  This traditional mansion, beautifully painted in blue, exhibits windows covered with iron bars, an influence from the Moors. A fine sampling of furniture from Peru’s Colonial and Republican eras is on display in its elegant rooms. Today, it has been modified into a museum.
 
• Bracamonte or Lizarzaburu House.  It represents two time periods since it combines elements from Peru’s Colonial and Republican eras, 18th and 19th centuries, respectively.

• Emancipation House.  This is the spot where Trujillo’s Declaration of Independence was drafted in 1820. It was also seat of the First Constituent Congress and later the house from where President Riva Agüero governed (between February and June, 1823).
 
• National University of Trujillo’s Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History.
 On display are archeological objects linked to the different pre-Hispanic cultures that thrived in the department of La Libertad, in particular those discovered at the Temple of the Moon.
 
• José Cassinelli Museum.  Exhibit artifacts from the Moche, Chimú and Recuay cultures.
 
• Toy Museum. It shows the transformation of the toy through history, beginning in pre-Hispanic times and ending in the 1950’s.
 
• Trujillo Modern Art Museum.  It has just recently opened and is the first of its kind in the country. Displayed are works of modern art from both Peruvian and foreign artists.
 

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Excursions Trujillo:

• Citadel of Chan Chan.  It is the largest mud city in pre-Hispanic Americas (belonging to the Chimú, 7th – 14th centuries A.D.). UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1986.
 
• Temples of the Sun and of the Moon.  This archeological complex held vast importance to the Mochica culture (3rd – 7th centuries A.D.) and is located between the lower and middle valleys of the Moche River. The Temple of the Sun stands 141.08 feet high and is considered to be the largest pyramid in Peru, whereas the Temple of the Moon is esteemed for its stunning multicolored walls.
 
• El Brujo Archeological Complex.  It is famous for its large, 99 feet high adobe pyramid (sacrificial wall), whose walls were covered with astonishing iconography. In 2006, researchers uncovered the tomb of a Moche noblewoman in a perfect state of preservation, named the Governess of Cao, who they presumed ruled the Chicama Valley 1,700 years ago.
 
• Huaca del Dragón or Arco Iris (Temple of the Dragon or of the Rainbow).
 An adobe pyramid, roughly 1,100 years old. The walls are profusely decorated in high relief that features anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, yet the most striking is a two-headed one with an infinite number of feet, similar to a dragon.
 
• Huanchaco beach resort.  Legend has it that a prince named Tacaynamo landed on the shores of this area 800 years ago and, together with his entourage, founded the first Chimú dynasty. In these waters, fishermen still ride upon tiny crafts known as caballitos de totora, 13 feet long and handmade that since pre-Hispanic times have been used all along the northern Peruvian coast. Today, the fishermen who ride these boats mingle with the surfers.
 
• Puerto Chicama or Malabrigo.  Recognized by surfers as having the longest left-handed wave in the world.
 
• Pacasmayo and San Pedro de Lloc.  Beach resort and port featuring traditional architecture and excellent surf; nearby, you can visit archeological sites and carob tree forests.

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BRIEF HISTORY

Trujillo was one of the first cities founded by Spanish conquerors in the Americas. On December 6, 1534, Diego de Almagro founded the city under the name of “Villa Trujillo,” in honour of his leader Francisco Pizarro’s birthplace, Trujillo in Extremadura, Spain. On 23 November 1537, King Charles I of Spain gave the town the rank of ‘city’ and the coat of arms that remains a symbol for the city. It was founded among four Chimù settlements: Huanchaco, Huamán, Moche & Mampuesto, to create an alliance against the Incas.

In 1619, an earthquake destroyed the city. Years later, in 1624, a new period of development began with the rebuilding of palaces. The Jesuits opened a seminary and school for education and the training of priests; they also served as missionaries to the indigenous peoples.

The city played a significant role in the struggle against Spanish rule. It was the first important city of Peru that proclaimed its independence of Spain in 1820, and it served as temporary capital of Peru in 1825. It was the headquarters of the revolutionary leader Simon Bolívar.

For a short period under Jose Bernardo de Tagle, Trujillo declared independence from the rest of Peru.

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Trujillo celebration dates
 National Marinera Dance Contest. January / February.
 An excellent chance to watch the marinera (traditional dance) and all the pomp associated with it.

 Huanchaco Carnival.
 February. It traces its beginnings to the early 20th century and was inspired by the Venice Carnival.

 Surfing tournament. March.
 Taking place on the beaches of Puerto Chicama (Malabrigo), surfers from all over the world participate.

 International Spring Fest.
 October. A vast array of activities takes place during its celebration: handicrafts and art expositions, concerts, fashion shows, lively socials and U.S. baton twirlers, among other attractions. It ends in a grand parade with floats.

 National Peruvian Paso Horse Show. October.
 Organized by the Trujillo Peruvian Paso Horse Breeders and Owners Association and taking place during the Spring Fest.

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Recommended for Visit in Trujillo

Archeology aficionados, who will be extremely pleased with the grand historical landmarks of Chan Chan and the Temple of the Sun and with the colorful friezes of the Temple of the Moon and El Brujo.

Nature lovers, who can enter the Cañoncillo Forest and visit its three lagoons.

Bird watchers, who should go to the village of Sinsicap, 2 hours from Trujillo, to see endemic species and a variety of lovely hummingbirds.

Surfers, who have great beaches to surf in Huanchaco and Chicama (Malabrigo).

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What to buy?

Artisans in Trujillo still carry on age old traditions, like wood carving, silver filigree, straw weaving and leather embossing. In the towns of Otuzco, Huamachuco and Pataz, you will discover very attractive wool ponchos and shawls.Artisans in Trujillo still carry on age old traditions, like wood carving, silver filigree, straw weaving and leather embossing. In the towns of Otuzco, Huamachuco and Pataz, you will discover very attractive wool ponchos and shawls.

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What to eat?

The generous ocean provides the cuisine of Trujillo its main ingredients; the best fish and shellfish are combined with produce of the valleys to prepare delicious dishes like causa de lapa and causa de raya (mashed potatoes stuffed with limpets or ray, respectively), cebiches, jaleas (a mixture of fried fish and seafood, seasoned with onions and tomatoes) and any number of soups with a fish base. Honorable mention goes out to pepián de choclo (a flavorful corn mush) and sopa teóloga (type of spicy chicken soup), an expression of mixed Spanish and native cooking. And for dessert, try any of the tempting quince fruit treats and humitas (sweet corn roll). There are also restaurants offering a wide variety of international food.

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