Huanchaco

Trujillo & Chan Chan, Peru

A surf town 20 minutes from Trujillo, past Chan Chan, popular for chilling, the beach, and traditional reed boats.

Places in Huanchaco

Huanchaco surf-town bars Bars in the popular surf town, a relaxed place to chill after a day at the beach.
Huanchaco reed-boat tradition Traditional reed boats riding the surf at Huanchaco, a centuries-old fishing and surfing tradition.

Best time to visit: Year-round thanks to Trujillo's 'City of Eternal Spring' climate, though drier months make exploring Chan Chan's adobe ruins more comfortable.
Getting around: Trujillo, Peru's 3rd largest city, serves as the base, with Chan Chan and the surf town of Huanchaco about 20 minutes away, and the Moche Huacas (Sun and Moon) reachable as a separate day trip.
Currency: Peruvian Sol (S/)
Language: Spanish; Quechua and Aymara are widely spoken in the highlands.
Timezone: PET (UTC-5)
Current trends: Trujillo's archaeological-capital identity continues to be anchored by Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city ever built, alongside the ochre-and-turquoise Moche pyramids, while Huanchaco's traditional reed-boat surf culture, just 20 minutes from the city, offers a relaxed coastal counterpart to the archaeological itinerary, with ceviche remaining the signature dish across the city's seafood-forward dining scene.

Trujillo Historic Center — Home to the Plaza de Armas, museums, and colonial architecture, worth a full day of exploration.
Chan Chan district — The largest pre-Columbian city ever built, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site.