The pre-Columbian city of Chan Chan

The Chan-Chan archaeological site is a highlight of Peru’s Moche Route,. The complex was the capital of the Chimú civilization from AD 900 to 1400. Located about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) west of Trujillo, it was built around AD 1300 and covers about 28 square kilometers (11 square miles), making it the largest mud city in the world.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Chan Chan

The city of Chan Chan was built out of adobe (or bricks of dirt). Built by the Chimu people in about 1300AD, Chan Chan is close by to the modern day city of Trujillo, an area rich in pre-Columbian history and home to many thousands of years of civilisation.

Carved motifs

Arguably the most striking features of the city’s impressive architecture are the brilliant designs and motifs carved into the adobe bricks. These represent birds, animals and figures as well as following intricate horizontal and vertical stepped patterns. The motifs depict everything from customs, religious mythology and constellations to farming and fishing seasons.

On the outskirts of the citadel, there was an area where the people were mainly engaged in farming, craftsmanship, and fishing—the main activities that sustained this northern Peruvian civilization.

Chan Chan in its heydey

In its heyday, Chan Chan consisted of administrative offices, ceremonial altars, storerooms, military bunkers and vast reservoirs that still stand today. Although the site is no longer as splendid as it must once have looked, visitors can still marvel at the architecture of the palaces: huge constructions of clay and sand measuring up to 15 metres in height.

Visiting Chan Chan

Chan Chan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Chan Chan is one of the many fascinating archaeological sites along the Moche route (the Chimu Empire descended from the Moche).

Contact us today to speak to an expert travel planner about visiting Chan Chan.

 

Related Post
Hacienda Tacama – Wine and Pisco in Ica The oasis of Ica, some 300km south of Lima, is home to Peru’s wine and pisco-producing vineyards. There, tucked amidst rows of grapes, sits the sprawl...
Peru’s Vibrant Candelaria Festival – Puno An amazing Peru festival in your trip Each year during the first two weeks of February, Puno hosts one of the largest and most vibrant festivals in a...
Corpus Christi Festival Cusco Corpus Christi Festival Cusco Today's celebrations in Cusco mark the 464th uninterrupted procession of Corpus Christi in the Andean city. The celebra...
Peru Travel Report: Visit to Chuquibamba community When organising visits to local communities in Peru, it is essential for us that we ensure the visit is authentic, tasteful and, above all, representa...
In Conversation with Joaquin Randall: How to make tourism more sustain... Joaquin Randall’s is a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin is...
GETTING TO KNOW THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF PERU Peru is home to 51 indigenous communities, all of whom have a unique culture and way of life. Among the 31 million people who live in Peru, about 80% ...