Trujillo, Chiclayo and Cajamarca make a wonderful cultural triangle within Peru’s north. Trujillo, named after conquistador Francisco Pizzaro’s hometown in Spain, is today a large city of colonial churches, weathered architecture and elegant plazas. It is the main hub for exploring nearby Chan Chan, the capital city of the Chimu civilisation. The world’s largest adobe city, Chan Chan’s palaces, plazas, temples and assembly rooms are still being uncovered and reliefs of fish, birds and fishing nets are in the process of being restored. Nearby, the Huacas del Sol y Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and Moon) and El Brujo pyramid are great examples of the Moche cultures that preceded the Chimu.
North of Trujillo is Chiclayo, where the main attraction is a number of Moche tombs – the most famous being that of Lord Sipan. It is possible to visit a nearby museum that’s houses many of the artefacts found in the tombs, as well as details of the excavations.
Cajamarca is located inland from the Pacific coast, and is an old colonial town centred around a Plaza de Armas with lovingly restored houses and an impressive cathedral. There are also plenty of Inca ruins to be explored nearby, as well as a remarkable feat of engineering in the form of the Cumbe Mayo. After an easy hike up into the mountains you’ll discover one of the oldest man-made constructions in South America, a 9km pre-Inca canal used to carry sacred water to various alters and sacrificial sites. A day's drive north takes you to the ruins at Kuelap, built by the Chachapoyas culture, and often referred to as the 'Machu Picchu of the North'. From here, another 2-3 hours’ drive takes you to the impressive Gocta Falls, where you can trek to the world's third tallest falls.
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