Advertisement
Published: August 26th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Day 56: Sunday 24th August - Overcast on the beach in Huanchaco
Up early to catch a bus to Trujillo, Peru's third city at 7am. Its a three hour journey and I decide to catch an early bus because I'm conscious of travelling quickly through Northern Peru to maximise time in what appears the more attractive (well to the tourist) South of the country. I have 2 weeks to get to Cusco for my Inca trail to start and want to spend 2 days in and around Trujillo, so that necessitates the early start. When I get to Trujillo I catch a taxi to Huanchaco, a beach resort 6 miles to the west of Trujillo.....it appeals to stay on the beach rather than in another city.....and this could be my last opportunity for some time. Get settled in at the hostel and then visit the nearby Chan Chan ruins with Claire an Australian girl who I'm sharing a dorm with. Chan Chan is the site of the ancient capital of the Chimu, an empire that succeeded the Moche in northern Peru. The ruins are similar to the Moche ruins, built from mud brick and you can only imagine what it
must have been like 700 years ago when it was built.
After wandering the ruins for a short while, I decide to head back to Huanchaco. Call a few of the boys to see what's happening back home, and its good to catch up with them. Take a wander along the beach and chill out with a coffee and a book. It would be nice to see some sun, but the weather is remniscent of Whitley Bay in the summer......grey skies wherever you look!
Day 57: Monday 25th August - Huaca de la Luna & Huaca del Sol
Another predictably grey day in Peru........I reckon I've seen no more than 2 hours of sun in my 4 days in Peru so far. The weather & the scenery have taken a turn for the worse since I left Ecuador. The people though seem friendlier, don't know if that's a fair judgement or I've just been lucky.
Visit the Moche pyramids of Huaca de la Luna & Huaca del Sol today with my fellow room mate, Ciara from Ireland. It invloves 2 bus journeys as it is on the other side of Trujillo. The pyramids are 1400 years
old, built from mud brick like those I visited in Tucume. These pyramids are in better shape than those in Tucume, and on the Huaca de la Luna site they are in the process of restoration. The entrance includes a guided tour which makes for a more interesting visit, and I learn more about the Moche culture. After the visit, I head back into Trujillo and have a look around the city.....its pleasant enough but there isn't much to keep me occupied so soon enough head back to the beach and Huanchaco.
After dinner I head back into Trujillo to catch an overnight bus to Lima......can't wait (not!). I have travelled through northern peru in 4 days, and although Chiclayo and Trujillo were pleasant enough, and it was interesting to learn about other Peruvian civilisations other than the Inca's they are both missable destinations. Hoping Southern Peru has more to offer once I pass through Lima.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.048s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 10; qc: 30; dbt: 0.0303s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Julie Smith
non-member comment
Have you seen Paddington Bear?