What we do: A 15 minute drive from Chiclayo takes us to the museum of the Tumbas Reales, home of priceless artifacts found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipan. They were discovered in 1987 by a local archeologist Walter Alva while excavating a nearby site at the ruins of Huaca Rajada. Some archaeologists consider this find to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in South America in the last 30 years, as the main tomb was found intact and untouched by thieves. By 2007, fourteen tombs had been located and identified at Huaca Rajada. Scientific analysis of the first skeleton found show that he was approximately 1.63m (5'ft4") tall and was about 40 years old at the time of his death. His jewelry and body ornaments included head-dresses, a face mask, a chest plate, necklaces, nose rings and ear rings; all indicate he was a local ruler and was named the Lord of Sipan. Buried with their chief, were six other people; three young women were possibly his wives or concubines who had apparently died some time earlier. Two males were probably warriors and there was a child of about nine or ten years of age. The remains of a third male warrior was found on the roof of the burial chamber sitting in a niche overlooking the chamber, possibly in a role as an eternal look-out. There was also a dog which was probably the Lord of Sipan's favorite pet. The warriors who were buried with the Lord of Sipan had amputated feet, as if to prevent them from leaving the tomb. Most of the ornaments found in the tomb were made of gold, silver, copper and semi-precious stones; they now make up an exceptional collection of precolombian art. It took 15 years to excavate the site, clean the artifacts and build a befitting museum, which opened to the public in 2002. 

What to bring: No cameras are allowed in the museum, although you can store them at the entrance, for collection at the end of the visit. There is a small visitors shop selling relevent sourvenirs.

What we do: A 40 minute drive from downtown Chiclayo takes us to the ruins of Tucume. It covers an area of over 540 acres (220 ha) and encompasses 26 major pyramids. The largest of the of the structures is the Long Shrine which measures 700m (0.5mile) in length and 30m (230ft.) in height. The ancient city of Tucume including the sacred pyramids was built entirely of mud-brick by the Sican culture in the 10th century AD. The site was conquered by the Chimú in the 14th century and became part of the Inca Empire in the 15th century. The area prospered under the Inca Empire until the arrival of the Spanish during the conquest of the 16th century.  We stroll along it ancients trails and can climb at least one of the great pyramids. In its site museum, we can see artefacts found in the ruins during excavations done since the 1980's.

What to bring: We do plenty of walking around the ruins, so bring comfortable shoes and a sun hat/sunblock. Also some water would be useful.

What we do: A short drive outside Trujillo takes us to the largest preColumbian city of its time in South America. In its prime between 9th and 14th centuries, the city measured 20 km² and had a dense urban center which contained extravagant residences, plazas, storerooms, and burial platforms. It is estimated that its total population once reached 60,000 inhabitants, living in 10 distinct walled suburbs. The entire city is protected by a perimiter wall measuring 18m (60ft) in height. The walls are adobe brick covered with a smooth mud plaster surface into which intricate designs are carved, showing geometric representations of fish, birds, turtles and small mammals. To explore the site, we wonder along its streets and plazas and take a close look at the figures carved in its walls.

What to bring: We will be out in the sun for a couple of hours so you need sunblock and a sun hat. Also bring some water and comfortable walking shoes.

What we do: The Huacas del Sol & Luna are two ancient sacred sites no more than 25 minutes from Trujillo town center. The Huaca del Sol (sun temple) is an adobe brick temple built by the Moche civilization the 2nd and 8th centuries. The Huaca del Sol is an enormous pyramis made up of four main levels and constructed from 130 million adobe bricks and was the largest pre-Columbian adobe structure built in the Americas. Located at the center of the Moche capital city, archeological evidence suggests the temple was used for  ceremonial activities as we as a royal residence, a military installation and burial chambers. The sun temple is one of several ruins found near the volcanic peak of Cerro Blanco, in the coastal desert near Trujillo at the Moche Valley. The other major ruin at the site is the nearby Huaca de la Luna (moon temple), which is a better-preserved but smaller temple. The sun temple was partially destroyed and looted by Spanish conquistadors in the 17th century, while the moon temple was left relatively untouched, served primarily a ceremonial and religious function, in contrast with the more downn-to-earth practical uses of the sun temple. At the time of construction, the moon temple was decorated with inset murals painted in black, bright red, sky blue, white, and yellow. Only of few small fragments remain intact due to the action of the sun and weather which has faded the murals over 1500 year period since contruction. We explore the temples on foot, seeing the best remaining examples of the murals as well as artifacts found in the small site museum.

What to bring:  You will spend the majority of time out in the sun, so bring a hat and sun block. Also, comfortable walking shoes to stroll around the ruins and some water.

What we do: Located in the Chicama Valley, 1.5 hours outside of Trujillo , the El Brujo was first inhabitated over 2000 years ago. It is a stepped pyramid with a central court that was probably used for religious ceremonies, perhaps even human sacrifice. In fact, the site is nowadays known as El Brujo, which means the Sorcerer, because the area is still a common venue for healing ceremonies carried out by local shamans. The remains of the main pyramid called Huaca Prieta now rise 30m (100 ft.) above the surrounding desert and its base measures 100m (330ft.) on each side of a square base.  Nearby is  the small pyramis of Huaca Cao Viejo, it is famous for its polychrome reliefs and mural paintings. Here, the mummified remains of a local fuedal rular, called the Lady of Cao was discovered, whose remains are currently the earliest evidence for a female ruler in Peru. Here body also shows interesting examples of early tattoos.

What to bring: You'll need sunblock and a sun hat, along with comfortable walking shoes and some water.