Huanchaco is located at less than 10 miles from the center or Trujillo, and is limited by Chan Chan to the south, a regional airport to the east, a natural preserve to the north where the local artisans grow the totora reed in a way that predate Chan Chan's Chimú rulers. Today fishermen still head out each morning with their nets tucked in caballitos de totora, literally "little horses" woven of totora reed. The design of these boats quasi-identical to the ones used by the pre-Inca people and depicted on Mochicá, Chimú, Salinar, Gallinazo, Virú and Lambayeque pottery. These used to be a familiar sight in places along the northern Peruvian coast but Huanchaco is one of the rare places where they are still used in day to day life. Unlike those used on Lake Titicaca, the caballitos are flat, not hollow, and ride the waves rather like surfboards. From the beach it is possible to rent some or ride along a local fisherman.

Although Huanchaco is close to the equator, the water is relatively cold, only slightly warmer than the waters of southern California.  The summers, from December to April are warm and sunny, with the beaches busy during the weekends.  The schools are closed from mid December to early March, and Huanchaco doubles or triple in size with the families on vacation.  The winters are cool with less sun, Huanchaco is more quiet and low-key.  The surfing is good year around.

What to visit from Huanchaco

  • Trujillo
  • Archeological Sites In the Trujillo area
  • Other villages and interesting areas to visit
    • Otuzco: located 75 kilometers east of Trujillo (2 hours by bus). Picturesque city in the mountains with narrow streets and high houses, wide doors and tile roofs surrounded by a beautiful Andean landscape featuring Tupullo creek, the river Pollo and the hill of La Ermita. Otuzco is pilgrimage destination for the adoration of the Virgen de la Puerta.  Several bus companies will take you there and it is worth the inexpensive day trip.
    • Cascas: Located at 103 kilometers from Trujillo, half of the distance through a really poorly kept dirt road.  It is a cute and quiet village, famous for its wine production.  It is possible to go around the city sampling the local wines.  The quality is very variable and the Cascas wine typically doesn't keep very well, however the general visit is worth it.
    • Puerto Chicama: located 74 kilometers northwest of Trujillo, it is a wide windy beach. It is a place famous for surfers for its extremely long waves.  The wave size is a bit smaller than in Huanchaco but more regular.

Huaca del Sol y de la Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon)

This major archaeological site was built at the time of the Moche culture (100 BC-650 AD), just east of a prominent, freestanding hill, the Cerro Blanco (White Mountain), and next to a small tributary of the Moche River. It occupies a central location within the extensive Moche Valley. The complex sits about three miles inland, southeast of the modern city of Trujillo and is considered by many scholars to be the former capital of the Moche State .

The complex is dominated by two huge adobe brick buildings: the Pyramid of the Sun, or Huaca del Sol, and the artificial platform called Huaca de la Luna, or Temple of the Moon. On the quarter-mile-wide, open plain between them, researchers have found many graves, most of them looted, as well as evidence of large scale manufacturing covered by a layer of sediment up to 10 feet thick. A considerable number of administrators, religious, and manufacturing specialists must have been living at this great pre-Hispanic settlement. Like most pre-Hispanic sites on the coast, it is located so as not to usurp agricultural land and in a good position to acquire food, building material and other resources.

The Huaca or Temple of the Sun is a scaled pyramid measuring approximately 43 m. in height which, according to tradition, was built in only three days by 250,000 men, using approximately 70 million adobes. It was used for ceremonial purposes and possibly in administrative functions as well as for housing for upper class. The Huaca or Temple of the Moon, located 500 m. from the previous structure, is a monument comprised of overlapping temples built during different periods. A tomb was uncovered here, with over 40 sacrificed warriors. A  top its strong adobe surface the are remains of large multi-colored murals, where the face of the Moche God, Aia Apaek is depicted.

Pre Hispanic Chronology around Huanchaco

1200-500 BC Chavin culture
500-200 BC Salinar culture
300 BC-700 AD Rise of Nazca culture, south of Lima.
300 BC-200 AD Virú or Gallinazo culture
100-300 AD Early Moche Culture
300 AD Burial of Lord of Sipán.
300-600 AD Middle Moche
500 AD Establishment of the Huari Empire.
600-750 AD Late Moche, Moche collapses as the Huari empire expands
700 AD Moche capital in Pampa Grande is abandoned
800 AD Wari highland capital is abandoned
850 AD Chimú kingdom starts in Sicán, first constructions in Chan Chan
900 AD Lambayeque and Cajamarca cultures appear.
1000 AD Collapse of Wari and Tianhuanaco
1000 AD Chimú Sicán states is flourishing
1100 AD Strong El Niño and tectonic movements create a lot of damages in northern Peru
1200 AD End of the Huari culture; Manco Cápac founds the Inca Empire.
1375 AD Chimú takeover of Moche/Huari territory.
1400 AD Tschudi Palace at Chan Chan built.
1438 AD Reign of the Inca Pachacútec.
1460 AD Inca conquest of southern desert coast.
1470 AD Fall of Chan Chan to the Incas.

Caballo de Paso
The Caballos de Paso, is a fine breed of horses with a tripping 4-step gait that the Trujillanos claim  makes of it the most confortable horse in the world. It was brought by the Spaniards, since there were no horses on the continent at the time of the Inca empire.

La Marinera
The word "Marinera" comes from "Mar", the sea. It expresses the movements of the body and the clothing of the dancers, similar to the sea waves.

The name was attributed to the writer Don Abelardo Gamarra.

Traditional foods

Cold appetizers: Causa de pulpa de camarón, cocktail de camarón, Tiradito de Lenguado, Tiradito de Corvina, Ceviche de Lenguado, Ceviche de Lenguado con Pulpo, Ceviche Mixto Especial con Cangrejo, Leche de Puma con Ron, Leche de Pantera con Vodka.

Hot appetizers: Cangrejo Reventado a la Trujillana, Jalea a la Trujillana, Jalea de Lenguado, Chicharrón de Calamares, Chicharrón Mixto, Chicharrón de Lenguado, Chicharrón de Camarones.

Main course: Cabrito de Leche a la Trujillana, Pato Criollo Guisado, Chancho Adobado con Ají de Huevo a la Trujillana, Tacu Tacu en Salsa de Calamares, Tacu Tacu en Salsa de Mariscos, Tacu Tacu en Salsa de Camarones.

Shrimp: Arroz con Camarones, Chaufa de Camarones, Cau Cau de Camarones, Tortilla de Camarones, Picante de Camarones, Camarones al Ajo, Camarones a la Plancha, Camarones a la Milanesa, Camarones en Salsa de Tamarindo con Frutas, Camarones en Salsa Tausi.

Lenguado: Filete de Lenguado a la Chorrillana, Filete de Lenguado a la Meniere, Filete de Lenguado a Vapor Oriental con Tausi, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa de Tamarindo con Frutas, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa de Mariscos, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa Tausi, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa Huanchaco, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa de Champiñón, Filete de Lenguado en Salsa de Camarones.

Seafood: Arroz con Mariscos (rice with seafood), Chaufa de Mariscos, Chaufa de Calamares, Tortilla de Mariscos (seafood omelette), Picante de Mariscos o Calamares, Cau Cau de Mariscos o Calamares, Calamar en Salsa Tamarindo con Frutas, Calamar en Salsa Tausi.

Chita: one of the best fishes, the main dishes are : Chita Frita (Fried chita), Chita al Ajo (Chita in garlic sauce), Chita Sudada (Chita stew), Chita al Vapor con Tausi (Steamed chita with tausi sauce), Chita en Salsa Tamarindo con Frutas, Chita en Salsa de Mariscos (Chita in seafood sauce), Chita en Salsa Huanchaco, Chita en Salsa de Champiñón, Chita en Salsa de Camarones

Shambar: wheat soup with pork belly and smoked ham, beans and green onion. Served with toasted corn (cancha). Only served on Mondays at lunch time. The best restaurants run out of the dish quite early, so it is suggested to order before 12.

Cebiche: Fish filet cut in pieces and marinated with lime juice, onion y hot pepper.

Cabrito con frijoles: Guiso de cabrito tierno, macerado en chicha de jora y vinagre con frijoles aderezados en cebolla y ajos.

Sopa teóloga: turkey or chicken soup with soaked bread, potatoes, milk and cheese.

Frejoles a la Trujillana: black beans with sesame and ají mirasol.

Pepián de pava: Turkey stew with rice, ground tender corn, cilantro and ají pepper.

Pescado a la Trujillana: steamed fish with egg and onion sauce.

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