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

The Northern Circuit: Tying together destinations in northern Peru With such destinations as Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Nasca lines, a well-established tourist circuit has been etched for those wanting...
Community tourism Peru with Tierra de los Yachaqs La Tierra de los Yachaqs - translated as "The land of the wise" - is the name given to the community tourism Peru initiative in the Sacred Valley. I h...
A Must Taste Guide to Fruit in Peru Fruit in Peru guide Blessed with extreme biodiversity and the three vastly different climate zones of the coast, highlands, and jungle, Peru is home ...
Marisol Mosquera Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist for Peru and Bolivia The Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist List Every year, leading travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler compile a list of the créme de la créme of travel e...
Traveling in Peru: the time is now In the week of May 17th, 2021, Aracari marked an incredibly special occasion. We welcomed our first guest since before the pandemic back for a luxury ...
Art and Sustainability An Exploration of the Sacred Valley: Our Team’s Experiences in Cusco The Aracari team is always on the lookout for unique experiences to offer our gu...