The Pre-Inca Ruins of Chan Chan in Northern Peru

On our way from Trujillo to Huanchaco, we stopped at the ruins of Chan Chan. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by the Chimu people about a millennium ago and was the largest mud-brick structure of its kind in the Americas. The Chimu people were eventually conquered by the Inca around 1470 AD, and the site fell into ruin.

These days there are efforts to excavate the huge site. Walking around, we were able to get a good sense of the scale of the ancient city. However, the lack of details means you have to use your imagination most of the time. We were glad to visit, as Chan Chan made a nice contrast to the Inca stone structures and designs in the south.