Chan Chan, Huaca El Dragon and Huanchaco Tour
This tour provides travelers with an excellent look at Peru’s Chimú civilization. You’ll visit the Huaca Arcos Iris (Rainbow Temple), the traditional town of Huanchaco, and Chan Chan, one of the most important archaeological sites in Peru.
- Duration:
- 3 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
This tour begins with a visit to the Arcos Iris Temple, which was built by the Chimú around A.D. 1200. While here you’ll explore two main platforms, one of which is adorned with restored adobe panels carved with the huaca motif. The other platform has 14 niches that were likely used to store ritual objects like shells, necklaces, gold, and textiles. Local legends say that this temple was the home of Takaynamo, the mythical man who founded Chan Chan.
Next you will explore the archeological complex of Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian adobe city in America. Chan Chan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. This was the capital of the Chimú empire, which stretched from Chancay (near Lima) to Tumbes. At its prime, Chan Chan was an elaborate adobe city with high walls, intricate passages, courtyards, terraces, gardens, and palaces. Around 30,000–60,000 people are thought to have lived here. Chan Chan’s enormous walls are decorated with geometric figures, animal outlines, and mythological beings. It’s a fantastic place to explore.
The tour ends with a visit to Huanchaco, an ancient fishing village where you can watch local fishermen work the waters on their traditional “Caballitos de Tórtora,” or reed rafts.
Attractions Visited
Chan Chan is the huge abandoned capital of the Chimú civilization. Set just outside Trujillo on the North Coast of Peru, Chan Chan is the largest adobe city in the world.
Read more:Chan Chan
A beautiful and relaxed beach town close to Trujillo and many historical sites, Huanchaco has enough charm to be a destination of its own: with vibrant boulevards, traditional reed fishing boats, and surfing culture, it’s the perfect choice for an entertaining day at the beach. Now an International Surfing Reserve, one of only five in the world, Huanchaco is a popular vacation spot where visitors and locals share the water and waves for surfing, swimming or fishing.
Read more:Huanchaco Beach
What to Bring
Camera, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.
What's included
Guide, entrance fees, and transportation.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
During this full day tour you’ll explore Peru’s Moche and Chimú civilizations. Along the way you’ll visit the Sun and Moon Huacas, Huaca Arcos Iris , the archeological site of Chan Chan, and the traditional town of Huanchaco.
Spend a half-day exploring the El Brujo Archeological Complex during this tour. El Brujo is considered one of the more important ceremonial centers along Peru’s northern coast.
Explore the latest discoveries in Peruvian archeology on this tour. You’ll visit the Sun and Moon Huacas and the Huacas de Moche Museum.
