| The often unknown region of the Archaeological north | | | | larger structure but unfortunately much of has been |
| of Peru is missed by thousands of visitors every year. | | | | washed away. Early looters had diverted the local |
| The North is home to a stimulating and memorizing | | | | river to access some hidden chambers in their search |
| range of pre-Hispanic (and even pre-Inca) ruins and | | | | for gold, washing away much of the structure. Nearby |
| monuments. Many people have heard of Machu | | | | is the other pyramid of the Temple of the Moon which |
| Picchu and the Sacred Valley, but what do you know | | | | is better preserved and excavated more extensively. |
| about the Sun & Moon Temples and the Valley of the | | | | 5km away from Trujillo are the ruins of Chan Chan, |
| Pyramids? | | | | which was the largest pre-Hispanic city in South |
| Once the center of the Lambayeque, Moche, and | | | | America. The extensive ruins are a testament to the |
| Chimu cultures, known for their advanced metallurgy, | | | | advanced civilizations that lived here for many |
| now the areas surrounding Chiclayo and Trujillo are | | | | centuries before Columbus 'discovered' South |
| primarily agricultural and produce very high quality | | | | America. Built by the Moche people it covers a land |
| cotton, rice, and sugar. These societies existed from | | | | area of 20 km? and used to be home to about 30,000 |
| about 400AD until the rise of the Incas in about 1400 | | | | people before conquest by the Inca's in about 1470 |
| AD. Today you can visit and explore the pyramids, | | | | AD. |
| wander around the colonial cities, observe the local | | | | From Trujillo visitors should make their way to the |
| rural lifestyle which still maintains many elements of the | | | | coastal city of Chiclayo. The city houses the Royal |
| pre-Hispanic local culture and enjoy the numerous | | | | Tombs Museum, home to the Lord of Sipán, one of |
| awe-inspiring archaeological findings at the local | | | | Peru's most spectacular discoveries unearthed in 1987 |
| museums- arguably the best in Peru. What makes | | | | and considered to be one of the most important |
| these societies so mystical is that not much is known | | | | archaeological discoveries from the last 50 years. The |
| about all these as they used no form of writing to | | | | city is also home to a number of other museums and |
| record their history - only recording on works of art | | | | cultural centers. |
| and ceramics. | | | | Near to the city you also have the archaeological |
| First time visitors should start in the city of Trujillo, | | | | complex of Tucume, known as 'The Valley of the |
| Peru's third city. In Trujillo you can visit colonial, | | | | Pyramids'. The Tucume complex is massive and |
| governmental and religious monuments in this beautiful | | | | includes 26 adobe pyramids and mounds that were |
| city. Nearby you can visit the Temple of the Sun and | | | | built by the Sican civilization around 1,000 A.D. |
| the Temple of the Moon. These are pyramid | | | | Seeing all these sights makes you appreciate the |
| structures were built around 500 AD and the biggest | | | | ancient histories and culture that exist in this great |
| of these is thought to be the largest pre-Columbian | | | | country. What strikes you is how the new Peru is |
| structure found in Peru. The Temple of The Sun is the | | | | molded around its rich and proud heritage. |