Located just five kilometers west of Trujillo in Peru's Moche Valley, Chan Chan stands as the capital city of the historical Chimor empire and the largest pre-Columbian adobe city in South America. Built around 850 AD by the Chimú culture, this sprawling ancient metropolis once housed an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 residents before its eventual fall to the Inca Empire around 1470 AD.
As you explore this fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Peru's arid coastal desert, you will witness incredible architectural masterworks, including massive walled citadels that served as palaces, plazas, storerooms, and royal burial platforms. You can walk through the impressive Tschudi complex—the primary walled compound open to visitors—where you will admire intricate high-relief wall carvings featuring marine motifs like fish, pelicans, fishing nets, and ocean waves that reflect the culture's deep connection to the sea.
Outside the royal palaces, you can imagine the daily life of lower-class artisans who crafted exquisite textiles, pottery, and ceramics in small, interconnected workshop-homes. Visiting Chan Chan offers you an honest, captivating glimpse into a highly organized, classist society that skillfully mastered desert irrigation and built a lasting mud-brick empire.
What to see at Chan Chan
- Explore the Tschudi complex featuring massive 12-meter-high defensive walls built to withstand earthquakes.
- Admire intricate high-relief wall carvings depicting pelicans, sea creatures, waves, and fishing nets.
- Learn about the ancient Chimor empire capital that once spanned 20 square kilometers.
- Discover the royal burial platforms, plazas, and storerooms housed within the city's grand citadels.
Visiting tips
Focus your visit on the Tschudi complex, as it is the citadel area open for tourists to explore.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Chan Chan is easy to reach on Trujillo’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Trujillo travel guide.
See the full Trujillo travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.