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Chan Chan
Chan Chan is the largest mud city in the world, once the capital of
the Great Chimu Empire. Likewise, close to Trujillo are located Huanchaco
and Huanchaquito, fishing hamlets where we can see the 'caballitos de
totora' (literally: little reed horses) small boats made of a spongy sort
of bullrush. These have served for fishing in this area since time
immemorial. Further north we find Chiclayo, the point reached by the
civilizations of Mochica and Chimu and where they left many vestiges of
their advanced development in craftsmanship, mainly in gold and ceramics.
you will visit the main points of interest in Trujillo, founded in 1534 on
the orders of Francisco Pizarro. Here there are many old churches,
convents, monasteries and colonial buildings and homes built during the
reign of the Spanish viceroys. Then visit Chan Chan, the greatest adobe
city in the world, with nine great compounds built by Chimu kings.
Chiclayo
 (left)
The Lord of Sipan
Surrounding
the modern city of Chiclayo are extraordinary archaeological sites and a
rich cultural heritage await the visitor. 1500 years ago the Pre-Inca
world of the Moche Peoples inhabited a vast expanse of the north coast of
Peru. The Moche excelled in agriculture of their lands unequaled in Peru
again until the late 20th Century. Although they had no written language,
hints to the extent of the Moche civilization exist in the exquisite metal
work and ceramic craftsmanship discover in the last 15 years.
 (right)
Sipan Royal Tomb
Hundreds of
examples of finely crafted precious metals and sophisticated pottery have
been excavated and are displayed at the Bruning Museum in Lambayeque just
outside Chiclayo. In 1990 a second tomb was excavated by Peruvian
archaeologists resulting in the discovery of the tomb "The Old Lord
of Sipan", recognized as the richest unlooted tomb excavation in the
New World.
Purgatorio (purgatory) is the
name by which local people refer to the dozens of pre-hispanic pyramids,
enclosures, and mounds found on the plain around La Raya Mountain, north
of Chiclayo. This is the site of Tucume, covering an area over 540 acres
and encompassing 26 major pyramids and platforms.
Cajamarca
The origin of Cajamarca comes from the Incas
culture. The Cajamarca valley was the center of the culture called "Caxamarca",
which reached the top development between the years 500 and 1,000 AC.
Cajamarca was part of the kingdom called Cuismango. The Inca's conquest of
Cajamarca was done by Cápac Yupanqui, who became an Inca later.
On November
16, 1532, in Cajamarca took place one of the most important events of the
Spanish-American and Peruvian history, when a group of Spanish explorers,
leaded by Francisco Pizarro took prisoner Atahualpa, the last Inca's king.
This was the end of the Incas' empire and the beginning of a new part of
the Peruvian history. Cajamarca was recognized as a city in 1802. The
oldest and central part of the city still keeps the Spanish architecture,
two store soil-brick madden buildings are the typical housing structures
in the city.
 (left)
The one-piece stone fountain in the main square was built in the beginning
of XVIII century; it is 5.75 m. high.
 (right)
Natural observatory, from where there is a view of the Cajamarca valley.
There are several Incan remains. A stone chair called "Silla del
Inca" and stone recorded hieroglyphics.
Cuarto del Rescate
A room where Inca Atahualpa offered to fill up one room with
gold and the same room twice filled with silver as payment for his
freedom. Conqueror Francisco Pizarro, took the payment and then
killed Atahualpa in Cajamarca main square
Ventanillas de Otuzco
One of the most important tourist places to visit in Cajamarca is Otuzco,
an Incan cemetery archeologically called "Necrópolis de Otuzco".
Cumbe Mayo
BAÑOS DEL INCA
The Ica Baths where the Spanish found Atahualpa on their arrival to
Cajarmaca
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