Chan Chan

Chan Chan is the largest adobe city in the world — the sprawling capital of the Chimú empire, which controlled much of the Pacific coast of South America before the Inca arrived in the 15th century. The site covers some 20 square kilometres of desert about 5 kilometres west of Trujillo, and even in its current eroded state gives a vivid impression of the scale of Chimú civilization.

The nine royal ciudadelas (palace complexes) each follow the same basic layout: high walls enclosing ceremonial courts, storerooms, an audiencia, and a burial mound. The Tschudi Complex is the best restored and the main visitor circuit. Its interior walls are decorated with friezes of fish, pelicans, and geometric patterns in bas-relief — extraordinarily intact given that they're made of unfired mud.

The site is best visited in the morning, before the midday heat sets in. Taxis from Trujillo centre cost a few soles, or you can take a minibus headed toward Huanchaco.

things to do sight landmark
A story
At its peak in the 15th century, Chan Chan was the largest city in South America and the largest adobe city ever built anywhere on earth, housing an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 people. Its nine ciudadelas — royal compounds — were each built by successive Chimú kings and then sealed as their mausoleum upon death. The Inca conquered the Chimú around 1470 and transferred much of the population and its metalworking expertise to Cusco.