Before you go

Your trip to Trujillo.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Trujillo – La Libertad Destination Trujillo and Chan Chan Capital

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos (TRU) Huanchaco · 10 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. Trujillo's airport is in Huanchaco, about 10 km from the center, with flights from Lima of about 1 hour. By bus, Lima is 8 or 9 hours away via the Panamericana Norte; each company has its terminal in the city.

How many days

Two or three days: the historic center and the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna in one day, Chan Chan and the Huaca Arco Iris on another, finishing in Huanchaco, and El Brujo on a third day.

When to go

It hardly rains, and the climate is usually mild year-round. From December to April there is more sun and heat; from June to October the sky becomes grayer, with drizzle. January hosts the National Marinera Contest, and between September and October the Spring Festival usually takes place.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The center is done on foot, and Chan Chan, the huacas and Huanchaco are 15 to 30 minutes away by taxi. There is a city bus to Huanchaco and agency tours to the archaeological sites. For El Brujo, about 60 km away, an agency tour or a taxi makes it easier.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Trujillo

Morning
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
Start with the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, south of the city, with the colorful murals of the Huaca de la Luna and the museum.
Afternoon
Chan Chan and Huaca Arco Iris
After lunch, head to Chan Chan, on the way to Huanchaco, and stop by the Huaca Arco Iris.
Late afternoon
Huanchaco
Finish in Huanchaco to see the caballitos de totora on the beach and the sunset over the Pacific.
Evening
Plaza de Armas
Return to downtown Trujillo to see the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral lit up and have dinner.

2 days in Trujillo

Day 1

Morning
Historic center
Plaza de Armas, Cathedral and Casa Urquiaga, with the mansions and wrought-iron window grilles.
Afternoon
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
Guided visit to the Huaca de la Luna and the museum, with a view of the Huaca del Sol.
Late afternoon
Explore the center on foot
Return to the center to walk the streets of the mansions in the late afternoon.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Try the northern cuisine: ceviche, cabrito and shambar, the wheat-and-bean soup.

Day 2

Morning
Chan Chan
Visit Chan Chan and the site museum early, before the strong sun.
Afternoon
Huaca Arco Iris
Head to the Huaca Arco Iris, on the route to the north of the city.
Late afternoon
Huanchaco
Sunset in Huanchaco, with the caballitos de totora on the sand.
Evening
Dinner by the sea
Have dinner in Huanchaco, with ceviche and the catch of the day, or return to Trujillo.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What to eat in Trujillo?

Ceviche and Pacific fish, cabrito with beans, shambar (a wheat-and-bean soup eaten on Mondays), and sweets like the King Kong alfajor, filled with dulce de leche and fruit.

What is the marinera?

A couples' dance with handkerchiefs, typical of the Peruvian coast. Trujillo is known as the capital of the marinera and hosts the national dance competition in January.

Can you visit Chan Chan and the huacas in the same day?

Yes, by taxi or an agency tour. The Huacas del Sol y de la Luna are south of the city, and Chan Chan is to the northwest, on the way to Huanchaco.

Is Trujillo very hot?

The climate is usually mild, without extremes. From December to April it is warmer and sunnier; from June to October the sky becomes gray and nights cool down.

Back to Trujillo