Less visited than southern Peru, the north of the country has been called “the Egypt of the Americas” for its wealth of archaeological sites.
Peru’s north coast was the cradle of several pre-Inca cultures. The Chimú built the massive fortified adobe city of Chan Chan, while the warlike Moche, who thrived about 1,500 years ago, left behind an extraordinary artistic legacy, with the most famous Moche remains being those of the tomb of the Lord of Sipan. Today, the elegant colonial city of Trujillo stands as a testament to the European empire which superseded those of pre-Columbian Peru, while bustling areas like Chiclayo and Lambayeque are renowned for their archaeological legacy and fine museums. |