Chan Chan: A City Made of Sand

By TravelWiseAug 2, 2012 10:56 AMOther
Share:
Chan Chan: A City Made of Sand
Chan Chan: A City Made of Sand

Chan Chan in Trujillo is actually not a city of sand, it’s a city of adobe, but that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. This place is huge and unfortunately most of it is falling into ruins. That there is anything there at all is impressive given that the city was founded almost 3,500 years old.

In terms of sheer size Chan Chan is probably the largest adobe ruins that you can see in the country. The city covered almost 20 square kilometres at its height and had a population somewhere in the region of 30,000 people. The ruins start almost on the outskirts of the Northern city of Trujillo. Crumbling walls and sand dunes line the highway that takes you to the main citadel, the best-preserved area of the city.

Step through the outer walls of the citadel and you’ll understand why Chan Chan was made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chan Chan in Trujillo looks and feels like a large temple complex or royal palace and is easily the equal of Cusco or Choquiquirao.

The large open-air courtyards and long straight passageways of Chan Chan in Trujillo are almost intact. There are alcoves for statues. The walls are decorated with carvings of fish and other animals alongside geometric patters. The intricate designs on the surface of the walls are amazingly well preserved and painstakingly restored. In other places the crumbled foundations of rooms and buildings hint at a past now lost and restoration work that is beyond the existing budget.

The only colour that you’ll find in Chan Chan in Trujillo is around the ceremonial lake in the heart of the citadel. Lush green reeds and lilies break up the monotony of brown mud bricks and the hazy sky. The colours that were almost certainly used to decorate the carvings on the walls have not survived the test of time, although enough of the decorations of Chan Chan in Trujillo are left for you to get an idea of what it used to look like.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Cozy hotel room with wooden headboard and framed artwork above the bed

NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano Opens in Historic City Center

Jul 30, 2025 21:45 PM
Qatar Airways aircraft in flight against blue sky

Qatar Airways Boosts Winter Flights to Key Global Destinations

Jul 30, 2025 19:22 PM

ScotRail Boosts Late-Night Services to Ease Travel During Edinburgh Festivals

Jul 30, 2025 07:38 AM

Two Tickets in One Click: JetBlue and United Simplify Complex Routes

Jul 29, 2025 23:43 PM
Bedroom interior with bedside table and lamp

Florø Prepares to Expand Accommodation Options for Visitors

Jul 29, 2025 21:36 PM
Southwest Airlines aircraft ascending with snowy mountains in the background

Southwest Changes Boarding Rules and Adds New Winter Destinations for 2026

Jul 29, 2025 19:28 PM
Modern hotel room with double bed, armchair, and wall art

Hyatt Centric Anjuna Goa to Open in Town Center, Bringing New Stay Option to Anjuna

Jul 29, 2025 17:42 PM
Woman checking travel information on her phone during a flight

Philippine Airlines Introduces Pre-Flight Emails with Essential Travel Details

Jul 29, 2025 02:35 AM
Railway workers performing track maintenance during engineering works

Weekend Engineering Works to Affect Rail Access Between Stalybridge and Dewsbury

Jul 28, 2025 23:25 PM

New Non-Stop Route from Cape Town Opens Up Mauritius for Travelers

Jul 28, 2025 21:32 PM

East Midlands Railway Cuts Fares on Summer Routes Across UK

Jul 28, 2025 20:47 PM
Person using smartphone at airport

New Ryanair System Changes How Travellers Book Through Agencies

Jul 28, 2025 16:26 PM
Modern hotel room with large window and city view

Holiday Inn Express Brings Overnight Option to Changanassery’s Lively Local Streets

Jul 28, 2025 14:33 PM
American Airlines aircraft preparing for departure on the runway

Denver Departure Chaos: American Airlines Flight Evacuated After Smoke Alert

Jul 27, 2025 23:54 PM
View from airplane window showing coastline and river below during flight over Borneo

Malaysia and Indonesia Open New Direct Air Routes to Simplify Travel to Borneo

Jul 27, 2025 20:31 PM

Rail Disruptions in Liguria: RFI Construction Projects Will Impact August Travel

Jul 26, 2025 23:41 PM

New daily Condor flights reshape the flight map of Europe

Jul 26, 2025 21:37 PM
Airplane flying overhead against a partly cloudy sky

Gdańsk Opens New Direct Route to Agadir, Simplifying Travel to Morocco’s Coast

Jul 26, 2025 20:26 PM
China Airlines Airbus in flight with clear sky background

New Direct Flights Connect Taipei and Phoenix, Expanding Access to Southwest U.S. Destinations

Jul 26, 2025 19:43 PM
Rail maintenance machinery working on tracks in South Wales

South Wales Rail Upgrades to Impact Travel Access in Early August

Jul 26, 2025 18:39 PM
easyJet aircraft on airport tarmac with boarding stairs

Euro Final in the Sky: easyJet to Announce Scores to Passengers During Flights

Jul 25, 2025 23:27 PM
Multiple railway tracks with red signal and overhead wires

Expect Delays: Leicester–Peterborough Line Closed 2 and 3 August

Jul 25, 2025 21:34 PM

Steam-Powered Day Trips from London Unlock Access to Britain’s Hidden Landscapes

Jul 25, 2025 20:42 PM

New Air Partnership Opens More Direct Travel Routes Between North America and Africa

Jul 25, 2025 15:28 PM
Wizz Air aircraft approaching landing in clear sky

New Wizz Air Flights Open Southern Europe to Gdańsk Travellers

Jul 25, 2025 10:35 AM
Railway workers performing maintenance on stacked rail tracks

Verona and Vicenza Rail Line Closed in August Affecting Travel Plans

Jul 25, 2025 01:48 AM