During this full day tour you’ll explore Peru’s Moche and Chimú civilizations. Along the way you’ll visit the Sun and Moon Huacas, Huaca Arcos Iris (Rainbow Temple/El Dragon), the archeological site of Chan Chan, and the traditional town of Huanchaco.

The Sun and Moon Huacas, also known as Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon), were built during the Moche empire. The temples are huge adobe mounds that were used for various purposes—Huaca de la Luna was used as a religious complex, while Huaca del Sol was an administrative center. The temples were built over centuries in platforms. Every century the Moche sealed the bodies of their dead rulers into the temple and then covered the existing platform with a new platform. Over some 700 years, the temple evolved into a huge stepped pyramid. While here you will also visit the Huacas de Moche Museum, which houses an assortment of artifacts, ceramics, utensils, and tombs.

The tour continues on to Huaca Arcos Iris (Rainbow Temple/El Dragon). The Chimú built this temple around A.D. 1200. Explore the temples’ two platforms to get looks at carved adobe panels and niches that were once used to store ritual objects. Local legends describe Huaca Arcos Iris as the home of Takaynamo, the mythical man who is believed to have founded Chan Chan.

You’ll then have lunch at Huanchaco. Huanchaco is an ancient fishing village where local fishermen continue to fish using traditional reed rafts known as “Caballitos de Tórtora.”

The tour ends with a visit to Chan Chan. The archeological complex of Chan Chan is the largest pre-Columbian adobe city in America and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú empire and was once an elaborate city complete with courtyards, terraces, palaces, and gardens. Between 30,000–60,000 people are thought to have lived here. Needless to say, Chan Chan is a wonderful place to explore.