Sun and Moon Huacas and Huacas de Moche Museum Tour

The Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) were built during the Moche empire (A.D. 100–800). These huge adobe mounds rise from the desert 5 miles (8 km) south of Trujillo.

The tour begins with a visit to the Huacas de Moche Museum. A local guide will take you around the museum and explain various aspects of Moche culture. You’ll appreciate the artifacts, tombs, utensils, and ceramics that are on display in this museum.

Next, you’ll visit the Sun and Moon temples. Huaca de la Luna was used as a religious complex, while Huaca del Sol was likely an administrative center. This area was the center of power on the northern coast of Peru during Moche times. Every century the Moche sealed the bodies of dead rulers into the huaca and then covered the platform with a new platform—this is how, over 700 years, the temple evolved into a large stepped pyramid with as many as eight levels.

The top of Huaca de La Luna offers awesome views of Huaca del Sol, which is considered one of the world’s largest adobe structures.