Long before the Incas and the conquistadores, Peru's North Coast supported productive, agrarian civilizations known today as the Moche, or Mochicaand the Chimú.
The Chimú made their living from the land and the sea. They fished and farmed and created a vast culture, with their irrigation systems watering fertile fields, but they left no written records.
Today the region is modern, with the city of Trujillo, about 350 mi (561 km) north of Lima, the largest in the area. It is a pleasant town, a good staging point between Lima to the south and Quito to the north. Check out these hotels in Trujillo.
Trujillo, Chiclayo and Lambayeque are the main cities built by the
Spaniards, and retain much of their colonial charm, but the area is rich in archaeology and tradition. Here are some of the must-sees for the Northern Coastal area of Peru:
Trujillo
Founded in 1534 and named for Francisco Pizarro's hometown in Spain, Trujillo is considered Peru's cultural capital, with festivals, including the Marinera, the national dance competition, an international ballet festival, art and horseracing, and the Totora raft exhibition.
Much of the colonial architecture surrounds the Plaza de Armas. The Casa Urquiaga hosts a collection of furniture, art, mirrors and pre-Columbian ceramics. Nearby, the Casa del Mayorazgo de Facala is a colonial gem, with Moorish-style carved balconies and ceilings, an open courtyard displaying a colonial carriage. Other colonial buildings
worth a visit are the Casa de la Emancipación, Palacio Iturregui and the Casa Bracamonte.
Museum collections in the El Carmen Church and Monastery, the Pinicoteca and the Archaeological Museum of the National University of Trujillo display Colonial art and artifacts from the area's tombs.
Compiña de Moche
The capital city of the Moche and the enormous pyramids, Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna were built around 100 AD.
Huaca del Sol, the Pyramid of the Sun, once twice the size it is today, is thought to be an imperial palace, containing great riches looted by guaqueros, looters, over the centuries. It was the center of power as well as burial place for royalty.
Huaca de la Luna, the Pyramid of the Moon, is smaller and contains many colored murals and friezes still being uncovered.
The Museo Cassinelli contains a large collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and Moche portrait vases that show us how the residents looked.
Chán Chán
The capital of the Chimú empire, called Chimor, this city 3 mi (5 km)west of Trujillo is the largest mud city is the world. At one time, it held nine royal compounds, boulevards, gardens watered by aqueducts, many homes and buildings. Looted by guaquerosand diminished by time and weather, the city is still impressive.
Nearby, the Huaca Esmeralda, Emerald Pyramid, was a religious site and burial place, and displays many of the coastal and fishing images central to the Chimú culture.
Huaca El Dragón also called Huaca Arcoiris, is within Trujillo city limits, and is decorated with images of a creature resembling a dragon and a rainbow.
El Brujo
Newly discovered, this Chimú complex 22 mi (35 km) northeast of Trujillo was once used by the witches of Chicama and shows evidence of human sacrifice as well as brightly-colored murals.
