Huaca de la Luna 🇵🇪

You will find Huaca de la Luna, or the Shrine of the Moon, near the mouth of the Moche River in northern Peru, roughly 4 kilometers from Trujillo and 5 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. Built mainly by the Moche people and inhabited between the 1st and 9th century AD, this large adobe brick complex sits near Cerro Blanco alongside Huaca del Sol. While Huaca del Sol served administrative and military functions, Huaca de la Luna served primarily a ceremonial and religious purpose.

Left relatively untouched by seventeenth-century looters, it has yielded rich archaeological insights. As you explore, you will discover three main platforms and several interconnected plazas built from adobe bricks, many stamped with distinct community markings. You can see 10,000 square meters of polychromatic murals adorning interior walls, crafted with mineral pigments like hematite and clay.

These vibrant artworks feature Moche deities such as Ai-Apaec, alongside depictions of warriors, prisoners, and ceremonial rituals. Excavated platforms reveal centuries of Moche architecture, where new platforms were built over existing ones every century across six hundred years. It offers you a fascinating look into ancient Moche religion, intricate artwork, and sacrificial rituals preserved beneath blowing sand.

What to see at Huaca de la Luna

• Over 10,000 square meters of polychromatic murals made from mineral pigments and clay
• Adobe bricks stamped with 128 distinct markings from surrounding producer communities
• Murals depicting the all-knowing Moche deity Ai-Apaec, warriors, and prisoners
• A complex of three main platforms and interconnected ritual plazas

Visiting tips

Look closely at the individual adobe bricks throughout the site to spot some of the 128 distinct community markings used during construction.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Not specified

How to get there & what’s nearby

Huaca de la Luna is easy to reach on Trujillo’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Chan Chan. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Trujillo travel guide.