Major city · Peru
Huanchaco
Stay 2 nights: surf and eat seafood in Huanchaco, day-trip to Trujillo and Chan Chan. Skip it in Jun–Sep if you want sun.
Huanchaco is a small beach town 20 minutes from Trujillo, known for reed fishing boats (caballitos de totora), beginner surf and cheap seafood. Most travellers use it as a relaxed base for Trujillo's colonial centre and the Chimú and Moche ruins. Two nights covers the beach, the pier and one ruin day; three if you surf.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PEN
- Best months
- Dec–Mar (coastal summer, sunniest)
- avoid Jun–Sep (grey, cool evenings)
- Airports
- TRU · LIM
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Peru ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
- Peru ↗Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
- Peru ↗The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
- Peru ↗Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Huanchaco105 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Huanchaco, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/).Peru-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.Peru-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.Peru-wide
- TippingRestaurants: About 10% if service is not included.Peru-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Peru-wide
- SafetyHuanchaco is a small, low-crime beach town; the real risks are cold-water currents, rocky patches…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPaper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.Peru-wide
- Emergency numbers105 police · 116 fire · 106 ambulance (samu) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays; strikes can shut roads and shops.Peru-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckTRU Trujillo (Carlos Martínez de Pinillos) (Between Trujillo and Huanchaco; about 10–15 min by taxi, S/6–7 (check)).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable; kombis and buses to Trujillo cost about S/1.50 and taxis S/8–13.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Beerbar or shopS/ 8–15
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 25
- Mid-range bedDouble room with private bath, a night, per roomPEN 110
- High-end bedDouble room with private bath, a night, per roomPEN 250
A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 90 · Mid PEN 180 · High PEN 350
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TRU Trujillo (Carlos Martínez de Pinillos) (Between Trujillo and Huanchaco; about 10–15 min by taxi, S/6–7 (check)) · LIM Lima (Jorge Chávez) (About 1 h flight to Trujillo, or 8 h by bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Feb
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Mar
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Apr
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
not flagged
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
Avoid
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Avoid
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Aug
Avoid
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Avoid
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
not flagged
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
not flagged
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Best: Dec–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Feb (28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)), coolest Jul (15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C) low). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Huanchaco: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Feb
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Mar
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Jul
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
1 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
1 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
1 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Dec
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable; kombis and buses to Trujillo cost about S/1.50 and taxis S/8–13. Short taxi hops inside town about S/2.50. Colectivo taxis to Trujillo about S/2 (check).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Trujillo colonial centre
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Kombi or taxi from Huanchaco
Plaza de Armas, cathedral and colonial streets; go in the morning.
Chan Chan
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Taxi or tour from Huanchaco
Chimú adobe city, UNESCO listed; go early, there is little shade.
Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del Sol
goDoor to door: About 40–50 min
Taxi or tour south of Trujillo
Moche pyramids; check opening days before you go.
El Brujo archaeological complex
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Taxi or tour north of Trujillo
Worth it for the Moche murals, but a long half-day.
Chicama (Puerto Malabrigo)
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus from Trujillo's Santa Cruz terminal, about every 2 h
Long left-hand point break; only for confident surfers.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Beachfront strip (Av La Rivera / Los Pinos)
Hostels, cafés and restaurants facing the sea; walk to the pier.
North end of the beach
Quieter, camping and surf hostels, 10–15 min walk from the pier.
Inland blocks (Los Ficus, Los Helechos)
Cheaper private rooms, 4 blocks from the sand.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- S/ 90–140 excl. bed
- Mid
- S/ 150–260 excl. bed
- High
- S/ 300+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room with private bath1 × 2 nights × PEN 110 | PEN 220 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × PEN 180 | PEN 720 |
| Kombi Huanchaco–Trujillo, both ways2 × PEN 3 · check | PEN 6 |
| Surfboard rental, one day2 × PEN 30 · check | PEN 60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 25 | PEN 50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | PEN 106 |
| Trip total≈ PEN 291 per person per day, bed included | PEN 1,162 |
2026 estimate in soles; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Menu del día (soup, main, drink) | S/ 5–15 |
| Ceviche at a seafront restaurant | S/ 20–40 |
| Pizza (large) | S/ 26–34 |
| Beer, bar or shop | S/ 8–15 |
| Taxi Huanchaco → Trujillo bus station | S/ 8–13 |
| Taxi Huanchaco → Trujillo airport | S/ 6–7 (check) |
| Spanish lesson, per hour | S/ 15–30 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Jun–Sep is grey and cool: bring long sleeves for evenings.
- Swimming is rocky in places; surf with a school or a rented board.
- Beware of bricheros and anyone asking to borrow money.
- Restaurants on the seafront cost more than in Trujillo.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 105
- Fire
- 116
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 106
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
HuanchacoHuanchaco
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police105
- Fire116
- Ambulance (SAMU)106
Embassy
No embassies in Huanchaco; most are in Lima. The US, UK and Canada have embassies in Lima (check addresses).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Kombi Huanchaco → Trujillo: about S/ 1.50, 20–30 min (check)
- Taxi Huanchaco → Trujillo centre: S/ 8–13 (check)
- Taxi Huanchaco → Trujillo airport: S/ 6–7 (check)
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
- Quiero hacer surf — I would like to surf (KYEH-roh ah-SEHR soorf)
- ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah)
- ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es seh-GOO-roh nah-DAR ah-KEE)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
Cash is king in Huanchaco; some hotels and restaurants take cards, the market and kombis do not.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Huanchaco. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Mar (coastal summer, sunniest) · avoid Jun–Sep (grey, cool evenings) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for TRU: taxi times and fares field-checked, night arrival fallback.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: pier and market, Av La Rivera, Los Pinos, north beach.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Chan Chan, Huaca de la Luna, El Brujo) and eat pages with last orders.
- Surf-school and board-rental fixtures with prices and lesson times.