UJ #3 - Peru: A luxury destination

Moche Route
CULTURAl-HISTORIC
This tour focuses on four, major archeological
sites. The first, the Huaca del Sol and Huaca
de la Luna, are both part of a structural
complex situated five kilometers south of
Trujillo, the capital city of La Libertad. The
Huaca del Sol is an adobe structure about 43
meters high, which archeologists believe was
used for administrative purposes. The huaca
has a stepped pyramid structure and includes
five large terraces, the largest of which is 80
meters long. The Huaca de la Luna lies roughly
500 meters from its counterpart. It also is a
huge, adobe structure, but is characterized by
superimposed temples, added to the huaca
at different times, suggesting that it was a
ceremonial center that underwent constant
renovations. Its superior platform houses a
series of rooms decorated with depictions of
human figures. On both the north facade and
the walls of the ceremonial plaza, there are
large murals and friezes painted in white, black,
red, blue and mustard.
Chan-Chan is the next stopping point of the
tour. Located northeast of Trujillo en route
to Huanchaco Beach, this adobe citadel was
declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
in 1986, and is made-up of nine precincts,
or small walled cities. The complex was once
the capital of the Chimú civilization and
covers an area of approximately 20 square
kilometers, making it the largest adobe city
in the world.
The circuit continues on to the El Brujo
Archeological Complex, 60km north of
Trujillo in the Chicama Valley. This site is
composed of three main huacas: Prieta, Cao
and Cortada. The most important is the Cao
Huaca, where the burial site of an ancient
Moche ruler called the Dama de Cao, was
discovered. The site and its artifacts can be
seen in the Cao Site Museum. Archeologists
working on the site compare the influence
and importance of this young leaders to
that of another Moche ruler known today as
the Señor de Sipán, whose impressive tomb
and artifacts can be visited in Lambayeque,
the last stop of the journey. Then the
Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán,
where the burial site and lavish treasures
of the Señor de Sipán are displayed, is ten
minutes from Chiclayo.
Los Horcones de Túcume
This hotel is the rallying point for visiting the 26 pyramids surrounding the Purgatorio
hill. Los Horcones de Túcume, in Lambayeque, is a rural lodge that was built inspired by
local architecture and where guests can experience country life with delicious barbecues,
horseback riding and warm nights. Their rooms are complemented with terraces made of
mud and carob tree, giving the place an ancestral ambience.
23