Trujillo City of Chan Chan ruins

Though very remote and little visited, the northern reaches of Peru possess unique treasures in culture, archeology and natural environments, this fascinating region definitely rewards anyone who has the time to explore it. It's an immensely varied corner of the county, ranging from the cities that stand out as welcoming oases of
cultural vitality along the desert coast, up to secluded villages in the Andes where you may well be the first foreigner to pass through for years. On top of this, the entire area is brimming with imposing and important pre - Inca sites, some of them only discovered in th last decade or two. Trujillo is one of the country's undiscovered jewels, located on the seaward edge of the vast desert plain at the mouth of the Moche Valley. It's attraction lies partly in it nearby ruins - notably Chan Chan and the huge sacred pyramids of the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna - partly in the city itself, and partly in its excellent beach communities. Huanchaco, only 12km from Trujillo, is a good case in point, essentially a fishing village and a likeable resort within walking distance of sandy beaches and massive ancient ruins.