Peru, Off the Tourist Path

Ride the Waves at Huanchaco Beach

Witness the way surfing has been done for thousands of years at Huanchaco beach, about 20 minutes north of Trujillo. You can take a lesson in riding caballitos de totora (reed boats) from master builders that set up all over the beach. Brothers...

Moche Temples of the Sun and Moon

Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and the Moon) can be explored on two-hour tours. At about 100 feet high, the Temple of the Sun is one of the tallest adobe structure in the Americas. A display at the Museo Huacas de Moche...

Surfer's Paradise in Peru

A point break an hour north of Trujillo, Chicama produces some of the longest left-hand waves in the world. Surfers should book a room at the Chicama Surf Resort; a Zodiac service tows guests back after long rides. During Semana Santa (Holy Week,...

The Wildlife of Peru's Northern Forests

The 85-acre Chaparrí Reserve is named for Chaparrí Mountain, considered sacred by Peruvian shamans. The dry forest is home to animals such as the llamalike guanaco, the Andean condor, and the spectacled bear (shown above).

Reservations required....

Peru's Imperial Past

Built of mud and adobe, Chan Chan—the nine-square-mile former capital of the Chimú empire (850–1470)—was the most expansive city of its time. Wander along pathways with a guide to see wall reliefs that depict creatures from the nearby Pacific. You...

Home to a High Priestess

At the Brujo archaeological complex roughly 40 miles from Trujillo, the remains of a Mochica high priestess, the Governess of Cao, were discovered in 2005. At the Cao Museum, travelers can view La Señora de Cao’s mummified body, featuring spider...

Historical Lodgings in Trujillo

Built in the 1940s as lodging for monks, the Libertador Trujillo features rooms with Moorish-style wooden balconies. They were patterned after those used during Spanish rule to prevent women from being seen from the street. Don’t miss a breakfast...