Trujillo Overview & Moche Temples

Trujillo is a lively crossroads of ancient cultures and modern arts. Discover its secrets and have your camera ready to capture some memorable images. Drive south of Trujillo to visit a religious center of the Mochica culture, built in the 5th century. Located on the left bank of the Moche River, near Cerro Blanco, you’ll find the temples, or huacas, of the sun and the moon.

Stop to view the Temple of the Sun, considered the largest adobe structure in the Americas. The stepped pyramid was partly destroyed by looters and flooding that washed away portions of it. Opposite is the Huaca of the Moon, another major part of this Moche urban and ceremonial center which you’ll visit. Between them both is a level area known popularly as the Plain of the Mochicas, where there are traces of ancient dwellings. A tour of Trujillo’s center gives you an opportunity to admire its colonial architecture. See the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, City Hall and the Libertador Hotel with its stunning façades.