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Major city · Peru

Trujillo

Give Trujillo 2 nights: one full day for Chan Chan and Huanchaco, one for Huacas de Moche and the colonial centre. Skip it if you only have a Lima–Cusco week.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
PEN
Best months
Apr–Nov (dry, sunny, 21–26 °C); Dec–Mar is warmer and busier
avoid Jun–Sep for beach days (garúa cloud and cool breeze); Jan–Mar if you dislike crowds
Airport
TRU
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Trujillo is Peru's northern archaeology base: the Chimú adobe city of Chan Chan and the Moche pyramids of Huaca de la Luna sit within 8 km of a colonial centre, and the surf village of Huanchaco is a S/1.50 bus ride away. It is a dry, warm coastal city at low altitude, so it works as a two-night stop between Lima and Chiclayo or as a break on the long bus north to Máncora and Ecuador.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Trujillo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeS/5–10
  • Sit-down mealCabrito con frijoles, sit-down restaurantS/25–45
  • BeerBeer, bar or shopS/10–18
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi in the centre / to Huanchacoabout US$1.50
  • Metro or bus rideBus Trujillo–HuanchacoS/1.50
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 35
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomPEN 200
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomPEN 380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 120 · Mid PEN 250 · High PEN 500

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 →

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.

Chan Chan (UNESCO)Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del SolEl Brujo and the Lady of CaoHuanchaco surf and caballitos de totoraCabrito and northern seafood
Airports
TRU Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International (On the Huanchaco road, 10.5 km northwest of the centre; Lima flights only, plus JetSmart to Santiago. Taxi to the centre about US$6 (check).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Trujillo: 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

19°C

2 rd

Feb

28°C

20°C

7 rd

Mar

28°C

20°C

9 rd

Apr

26°C

18°C

1 rd

May

24°C

17°C

0 rd

Jun

22°C

17°C

0 rd

Jul

21°C

16°C

0 rd

Aug

21°C

15°C

0 rd

Sep

21°C

15°C

0 rd

Oct

22°C

15°C

0 rd

Nov

23°C

16°C

0 rd

Dec

25°C

18°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Yellow taxis with a municipal coat-of-arms sticker on the windscreen; short hops in the centre about US$1.50, to Huanchaco about US$4, airport about US$6 (check). Uber works but with few drivers. Buses and combis to Huanchaco cost S/1.50 from Avenida España. Ruins are 5–8 km out: hire a taxi by the hour (about US$5/h, check) or join a tour.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Huanchaco

go

Door to door: 30–45 min

Bus or combi from Avenida España, S/1.50; taxi about US$4

Surf, ceviche and reed boats; go for lunch and stay for sunset.

El Brujo and Magdalena de Cao

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h each way

Tour or taxi on highway 104, about 52 km northwest

Moche murals and the Lady of Cao museum; pair with a chicha stop in Magdalena de Cao.

Chiclayo

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Bus from the Pan-American terminals, 3–4.5 h

Gateway to Sipán and Tucume; sleep there rather than doubling back.

Máncora

overnight

Door to door: 9–10 h

Night bus north, 9–10 h

Beach continuation toward Ecuador; book a cama seat.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro Histórico (Plaza de Armas)

Colonial streets, museums and most restaurants on foot; noisier at night, taxis needed for ruins.

Huanchaco

Beach and surf base 12 km northwest; buses to Trujillo run all day, but ruins trips start earlier from town.

Av. América Sur / Mall Aventura area

Chain hotels, malls and bus terminals; practical for one night with an early departure.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
S/120–180 excl. bed
Mid
S/200–350 excl. bed
High
S/400+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 2 nights × PEN 200PEN 400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × PEN 250PEN 1,000
Chan Chan entry2 × PEN 11 · checkPEN 22
Huacas de Moche entry (site plus museum)2 × PEN 16 · checkPEN 32
El Brujo entry2 × PEN 15 · checkPEN 30
Taxi by the hour, ruins circuit1 × PEN 70 · checkPEN 70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 30PEN 60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgePEN 161
Trip total≈ PEN 444 per person per day, bed includedPEN 1,775

2026 estimate in soles; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Menú del día (soup, main, drink)S/10–18
Cabrito con frijoles, sit-down restaurantS/25–45
Ceviche at HuanchacoS/25–45
CoffeeS/5–10
Beer, bar or shopS/10–18
Bus Trujillo–HuanchacoS/1.50
Taxi in the centre / to Huanchacoabout US$1.50

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Trujillo is fine by day in the centre and at the ruins, but the tourist scams here are persistent: fake guides, party invitations and switched notes. Keep bags in front, use app or hotel taxis at night, and book tours directly.
  • Unsolicited 'guides', surf or salsa teachers and party invitations are a known setup; walk on and book tours yourself.
  • Watch for switched or false banknotes when paying taxis and touts.
  • Use ATMs inside malls or banks in daylight and do not count cash on the street.
  • Some taxi firms have a poor record for crime; note the plate and prefer app or hotel-arranged cars at night.
  • Sun is strong at the ruins and beach even when the breeze feels cool: hat and sunscreen.

Emergency numbers

Police
105
Fire
116
Ambulance (SAMU)
106

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

TrujilloTrujillo

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police105
  • Fire116
  • Ambulance106

Embassy

No US or UK embassy in Trujillo; embassies are in Lima, with honorary consulates in the north (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi airport → centre: about US$6, 20–30 min
  • Bus Trujillo → Huanchaco: S/1.50 from Avenida España
  • Taxi by the hour, ruins: about US$5/h

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta a Huanchaco? — How much to Huanchaco? (KWAN-to KWES-ta a wan-CHA-ko)
  • Al precio acordado, por favor — Please use the meter / agreed price (al PRE-syo a-kor-DA-do por fa-VOR)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • No necesito guía, gracias — I don't need a guide, thank you (no ne-se-SI-to GI-a GRA-syas)
  • ¿Este bus va a las ruinas? — Is this the bus to the ruins? (ES-te bus va a las RWI-nas)
  • Ayuda — Help (a-YU-da)

Cruise ships dock at Salaverry, 17 km southeast; taxis need a port permit, so drivers wait outside the gates.

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 Trujillo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Nov (dry, sunny, 21–26 °C); Dec–Mar is warmer and busier · avoid Jun–Sep for beach days (garúa cloud and cool breeze); Jan–Mar if you dislike crowds · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for TRU: taxi band, late-arrival fallback, Huanchaco alternative.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Plaza de Armas, Pizarro pedestrian street, Chan Chan, Huacas de Moche.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Chan Chan, Huaca de la Luna, El Brujo, Cassinelli) and eat pages with lunch cutoffs.
  4. Sun, garúa and cruise-ship-day fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Peru

Sources