Trujillo

Trujillo is a colonial city on Peru's north coast, known for adobe ruins, Moche pyramids, surf at Huanchaco and the marinera dance.

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Trujillo is a coastal city in northwestern Peru and the capital of La Libertad Region, on the Moche River near the Pacific Ocean. It lies about 559 km north of Lima. The Spanish officially founded it on 5 March 1535, and its Historic Center still has colonial churches, mansions and the Plaza de Armas, where independence from Spain was proclaimed on 29 December 1820.

Chan Chan, the Chimú capital about 5 km northwest of the center, was the largest adobe city in the Americas and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The Temples of the Sun and Moon, Moche sites about 5 km south of the center, are among the city's most visited. Huanchaco beach, just north of the city, is a known surf spot, and fishermen there still use reed boats. Expect temperatures of about 14 to 30 °C, with drizzle and morning mist from May to October. Two to three days covers the center and the main sites.

Trujillo in five

Plan Chan Chan and the Moche temples on separate half daysChan Chan lies about 5 km northwest of the center and the Temples of the Sun and Moon about 5 km south, so they are in opposite directions. Give each one its own half day.Getting around
Pack a layer for the May to October mistFrom May to October the city often has light drizzle and dense morning mist that can last until the end of the day. Bring a light jacket for mornings at the coast.
Go to Huanchaco for the reed boats and the pierFishermen still use caballitos de totora, reed boats in use since the Moche and Chimú periods, and you can see and ride them at Huanchaco. The fishing pier is the usual photo stop.
Time a visit around the Marinera festivalThe Marinera Festival runs in the last week of January, with national and international couples competing.Festivals
Land at the airport in Huanchaco districtCapitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport is in Huanchaco district, with daily flights to Lima and Santiago. The ride into the center is a separate leg, so confirm your transfer before you land.Getting around

Things to do in Trujillo

See all attractions in Trujillo

Temple · TrujilloCarmen Monastery

Church · Trujillo"Belen" Church

Church · TrujilloIglesia La Merced

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to TrujilloPut the places you like in Trujillo on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Sol (PEN)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; check with Migraciones before you fly Read more
Emergency: 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected for taxis
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Marinera festival
FebruaryPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Huanchaco carnival
MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Anniversary week
AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Before the mist
MayClear1 rainy dayHigh22°Low18°Mist starts
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Mist, drizzle
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Mist, drizzle
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mist, drizzle
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Mist, drizzle
OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Spring festival
NovemberClear1 rainy dayHigh22°Low16°Lyric singing
DecemberClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Light rain, mild

Average daily high and low in Trujillo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Sep Trujillo Spring Festival · Oct Trujillo Spring Festival

Right now in Trujillo

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 28°
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 53%

Trujillo

07:03 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today28°22°53%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 53%.
Tue27°21°91%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 91%.
Wed26°21°89%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 89%.
Thu27°22°53%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 53%.
Fri28°22°47%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 47%.
Sat27°22°25%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
Sun28°22°26%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 26%.

Updated 05:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Trujillo

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Sep–OctTrujillo Spring FestivalTrujillo

Day trips by train

Chan Chanabout 5 km northwest of the centerThe Chimú capital, once the largest adobe city in the Americas, with a museum at the foot of the ruins.
Temples of the Sun and Moonabout 5 km south of the centerThe Moche religious center, with the Huaca del Sol, described as the largest pre-Columbian adobe pyramid in Peru.
El Brujoabout 45 km north of the cityAn archaeological complex with the Dama de Cao, a Moche ruler's mummified tomb, and the Huaca Cao Viejo reliefs.

Before you go to Trujillo

eSIM for TrujilloOffline maps for ruins and coast roadsRead the guide

Travel insurance for TrujilloCover for a fall or a missed flightRead the guide

Money and cards in TrujilloSoles in cash for small placesRead the guide

Stays in TrujilloCenter and Huanchaco optionsRead the guide

Rules for Trujillo, checked

Check entry rules with Migraciones, Peru's immigration service, before you book, since visa-free stays depend on your passport.Source
Do not buy or try to take out pre-Columbian objects, which Peru controls under its heritage laws. Buy replicas or prints instead.

Plan around Trujillo

All of Peru

Regions, entry rules and travel across Peru

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules and the official checks before you fly

Read the guide Getting around

Flights, buses and taxis between Trujillo and nearby sites

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and typical prices in the city and on the coast

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels and guesthouses in the center and in Huanchaco

Read the guide Festivals

Marinera, Spring Festival and other dates in the calendar

Read the guide

Trujillo FAQ

Is Trujillo worth visiting?

Yes if you want ruins and a working coastal city together. Chan Chan, the Moche temples and the Historic Center are within a short drive of each other.

How many days do you need in Trujillo?

Two to three days covers the historic center, one ruin site and Huanchaco at a relaxed pace. Add a day if you want El Brujo, which is about 45 km north.

How do you get to Trujillo?

Fly into Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos airport in Huanchaco district, which has daily flights to Lima and Santiago. Confirm the transfer to the center before you land.

When is the best time to visit Trujillo?

December to April is the easiest window, since the morning mist of May to October is the main downside. January has the Marinera Festival in the last week.

Can you visit Chan Chan and the Moche temples in one day?

It is possible but tiring, because each site is about 5 km from the center in opposite directions. Splitting them into two half days is easier.

What should you eat in Trujillo?

Try ceviche, the city's signature dish, and shambar, a bean soup with smoked ham that is traditionally served on Mondays. Alfajores from Dulcería Castañeda have been made since 1925.