The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon

For those interested in archaeological activities the massive Moche pyramids of Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna located 5 kilometers south of Trujillo are a must see. At 45 m high, Huaca del Sol was the largest man-made structure in the western hemisphere before it was partly destroyed by Spaniards during a massive treasure hunt.

Sitting at the base of Cerro Blanco, these mud-brick remains of the ceremonial capital of the Moche State offer visitors a rare glimpse into ancient Moche civilization. These two massive structures were once divided by the homes of nearly 15,000 of the city's nobles, while suburbs housing over 20,000 commoners stretched outward from the central city.

While meandering through these ancient structures be sure to keep an eye out for repeated images of the anthropomorphic god Aie-Paec, endearingly nicknamed the Decapitor, which often adorn the pottery and frescoes of surrounding sites.  

Archaeologists are peeling away layers to discover more about these ancient ruins and are constantly discovering and displaying new friezes of stylized figures. Reproductions of some murals are on display in Trujillo at the Museo de Arqueología (Archaeology Museum).

Location:
Trujillo, Peru

Cultural Tour

Getting There
From the paradero (bus stop) at Jirón Suárez, one block from Avenida Los Incas, or from Terminal Terrestre Interurbano, take a van to Campo de Moche.

Travel Tips: The neighborhoods around the bus terminal and bus stop are not safe; take a taxi. Walking between the sites, there is a risk of assault and robbery as well. To avoid all this hassle, most people take a tour ($10).

Price Description: Adults $3.70; retirees, university students (with ID), teachers $2; children (5-13 years old) $0.35. Ticket is valid for 2 days and for Chan Chan (Tschudi complex and museum), Huaca Arco Iris and Huaca Esmeraldas.

Open Hours from: 9 a.m.

Open Hours to: 4:30 p.m.

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Reviews

Traveler Reviews of The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon

Amazing!

Brilliant conservation. Extensive panorama. Very interesting culture. Better experience than Machu Pichu. Great example of how to run a project.

Make sure you get a good guide, not a 20 minute rush job from the plaza de armas hustlers.

Traveler from Australia on Apr 05, 2008