It is the largest mud city in America and the second largest in the world. Located in Peru impresses by its imposing walls and beautiful carved designs.
In the north of Peru, and a few meters far from the sea, stands an imposing pre-Inca city. A huge citadel built only with land, water, seashells and cactus juice. Its name is Chan Chan and it has been declared a World Heritage Site due to its historical and cultural importance.
It is the largest mud city in America and the second largest in the world, a huge city composed of ten walled cities, streets and food stores of the Chimu culture of about 20 km2.
The citadel of Chan Chan was the main center of the Chimu kingdom. Its huge walls are reminiscent of the pyramids of Egypt, but they differ from them having their own identity given by their beautiful walls decorated with reliefs of geometric figures, fish and other animals.
The importance of Chan Chan lies in its complex storage system, which allowed the Chimu culture to survive the "phenomenon of the child". Unlike the Moche, which is believed to be extinct due to the strong climate changes that left them without crops for long periods of time, the Chimu defeated the climatic phenomenon by keeping food in huge mud rooms.
A new discovery in Chan Chan
Just a few months ago, in October 2018, new discoveries were made in the Chimú citadel. Specialized archaeologists found 19 anthropomorphic wooden sculptures and a carved corridor with mud decorations. This is the kind of events that keep those who love archeology from the ruins of Peru. Although Peru has some of the most incredible ruins in the world, new discoveries are still surprising and impressing anyone who is interested in the past of our humanity.
Where is the citadel of Chan Chan?
The ruins of Chan Chan are located five kilometers far from Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru, in the department of La Libertad.
What are the hours of service for the Chan Chan citadel?
The entrance of the citadel goes from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Sunday, while the museum site is open from Tuesday to Sunday also from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
What is the price of the entrance to the Chan Chan citadel?
The price may vary according to the season. We recommend seeing this detail on the official tourism website in Peru (peru.travel).
