Peru Vacation: Huanchaco in Northen Peru

Although harboring incredible treasures of culture, archeology and natural environments, the North of Peru is surprisingly neglected by most travelers to Peru. More often than not, tourists prefer traveling south were more famous highlights await eager travelers. Don’t make a hasty decision by putting aside this marvelous region, where a few gems are just waiting to be discovered.

Among those, Huanchaco, located only 12 kilometers away from Trujilly, one of the north’s loveliest towns. This beautiful and peaceful coastal resort is a great place if you are looking to stray away from the crowds and catch a glimpse of the true Peruvian way of life. Until the 1970’s, Huanchaco was a tiny fishing village, but it is now quickly developing, progressively losing some of its old charm as concrete hotels and streets are spreading. It is however still an excellent base to visit the area, and particularly the nearby ruins of Chan Chan, one of the most spectacular archeological sites in the country.

Fast development has not yet tarnished the village’s appeal. Make sure to go to the long jetty, where you can jostle with the local fishermen for the best fishing positions, and browse through the stalls of the handicraft market at the entrance of the pier. Along the back of the beach, you will stumble across stacked rows of caballitos del mar, these ancient seagoing rafts designed by the Mochica people and still used by some of the locals today. They are built out of four cigar-shaped bundles of tortora reeds tied together into an arc. Huanchaco’s only historical sight, worth a visit, is the old and square Iglesia Soroco. Perched high on the cliffs, this church claims to be the second church built by the Spanish in Peru. It was built in 1540 on top of a pre-Inca temple.

The best time to visit Huanchaco is during the June fiesta week, when a large tortora raft comes ashore accompanied by a fleet of caballitos. But even out of season, the town is always lively. Mingle with the locals, enjoy some delicious and fresh in one of the restaurants standing along the beach side, and relax in this quaint settlement before carrying on your Peru explorations.

This guide to Huanchaco in the north of Peru was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Peru vacations.