Explore the largest pre-Columbian adobe city and pyramid of the Americas 15 minutes from Huanchaco.
Some of the most amazing treasures in the world are just off the beaten path, and this is certainly true about the ruins sprinkled around the coastal city of Trujillo. Just 15 minutes from the city center you can discover the metropolis of Chan Chan, and 30 minutes away stand the elusive Temples of the Sun and Moon.
Chan Chan was the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and the largest adobe city in the world. The archaeological site covers a sprawling 12.5 miles (20 kilometers), with approximately 10 walled palaces throughout. These ciudadelas, or citadels, are architectural masterpieces, with intricate carvings lining the plazas, storerooms, and burial platforms.
Chan Chan is believed to have been constructed by the Chimú culture in 850 AD, and was the capital of the Chimú Empire, or Kingdom of Chimor, from 900 to 1470 AD. The Chimú succeeded the ancient Moche civilization, who occupied the region from about 100 to 700 AD. In 1470, the city was conquered and incorporated into the Inca Empire.
The Chimú people used the now-extinct Quingnam language, which was spoken from the Jequetepeque River in the north to Carabayllo, a district in present day Lima. The moon, known to them as Si or Shi, was the most divine of deities. They also worshipped Mars (Nor), Earth (Ghisa), Sun (Jiang), and Sea (Ni).
There are two theories about what Chan Chan means. The more accepted theory is that the name is derived from the Quingnam Jiang or Chang, which would translate to Sun-Sun or Resplendent Sun (as repeated words take on special meaning in Quingnam). The other possibility is that it was derived from Shian, with Shi meaning moon, and an meaning house, thereby translating to House of the Moon.
A three-hour tour of this UNESCO world heritage site, included in Peru for Less' 11 day Archaeological Adventure travel package, transports you to a prosperous history via the passageways, ceremonial plazas, shrines, reservoirs, granaries, and funerary platform. The circuit typically includes a visit to the nearby Temple of the Dragon, or Huaca del Dragón, as well as the fisherman's cove of Huanchaco, where you can see traditional Totora reed boats.
The aforementioned Moche civilization has some famous ruins of their own: The Sun Temple and the Moon Temple, or Huaca del Sol y de la Luna—collectively known as The Temples of Moche. It is believed that the Huaca del Sol was used for military, business, and politics, while the Huaca de la Luna was used for religious purposes.
The Huaca del Sol itself is a stepped pyramid said to have been composed by an estimated 130 million adobe bricks. Impressive in its magnitude, this temple was actually the largest pre-Columbian adobe structure in the Americas.
The nearby Huaca de la Luna is a smaller but better preserved site, as the Sun Temple was heavily looted by Spanish conquistadors. Also made from adobe, this terraced structure originally had many murals painted in black, red, blue, white and yellow that have since faded. Many of the murals were dedicated to the deity Ayapec, which is Muchik for “all knowing.”
Between these two temples lies the buried Moche city, which archaeologists are slowly excavating to discover more about this fascinating civilization. A 2.5-hour tour guides you through both temples, with a stop at the The Temples of Moche Museum, where you can see many interesting artifacts and tombs that have been unearthed and preserved.
Machu Picchu is not the only praiseworthy archaeological site in Peru. If you are looking for a jolt of ancient history after some chill time on the beaches of Huanchaco, take a half-day trip to Chan Chan or Temples of the Sun and the Moon and prepare to be captivated.
This article was brought to you by Peru for Less who specialize in tours to Peru and Latin America. Customize your own journey to Peru by contacting their team of travel experts.
by Gina Cronin