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TOURIST INFORMATION
LA LIBERTAD |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of La Libertad is situated in the north
of Peru.
Area:
25 569,67 km2
Capital:
Trujillo
Altitude:
34 m.a.s.l.
Average
annual temperature: 18,9º C (30º C
maximum, 16º C minimum). Rainy season: July and August. |
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By road: Lima-Trujillo
(561 km) – approximately 8 h by car along the North
Pan American Highway.
By
air: Daily flights available from Lima to Trujillo
(approximately 45 minutes.). |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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The population of La Libertad dates back
12 000 years, as proved by the archaeological ruins found
in the Paijan, La Cumbre and Quinhua Plains.
Chala and Yunga regions were the sites of the great Cupisnique,
Salinar, Virú, Chimú and Mochica cultures.
The famous examples of ceramic vessels (depicting faces)
and the pyramid temples belong to the Mochica or Moche
culture (third to seventh centuries AD); the latter are
proof of the great architectural skills acquired by the
Mochicas.
Subsequently, this area was inhabited by the Chimu culture
(twelfth to fifteenth centuries AD). With Chan Chan as
its capital, this was the largest adobe metropolis in
pre-Hispanic America and the second largest in the world.
These people were also prominent goldsmiths and their
extensive network of aqueducts reveals their highly advanced
farming techniques.
After encountering much resistance, the Incas conquered
this kingdom in the fifteenth century. Founded in 1 534,
when the Spaniards arrived in this valley, Trujillo became
one of the main viceroyal cities.
Trujillo was the first city in the north of Peru to proclaim
its independence on December 29th, 1 820.
Now an economic and cultural center for the north of Peru,
it is famous for its Marinera and Resbalosa folk dancing
festivals, and a breeding ground for Peruvian Pace Horses;
moreover, the traditional “caballitos de totora*”
or reed boats can still be seen on the lovely local beaches. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF TRUJILLO |
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The Cathedral
Corner of Jr. Independencia and Jr. Orbegoso.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 7:00-12:00 and 17:00-19:00.
Situated in the Main Square, this building dates back
to 1 686. It is a large temple that contains valuable
works of art. Prominent among these are the high altar,
Cusco School paintings and some sculptures.
El
Carmen Monastery
Corner of calle Colón and calle Bolívar.
Phone: (044) 24-1823.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-11:00 and 16:00-17:00.
Built in 1 759, this is one of the most beautiful architectural
complexes in the city. It contains about 150 canvasses,
most of them from the XVII and XVIII centuries, several
of which pertain to the Quito School.
San
Agustín Church
Jr. Bolívar 508.
Visits: 9.00-12:00 and 16:30-20:00.
Pertaining to the seventeenth century, the high altar
is golden wood and the pulpit is baroque.
San
Francisco Church
Corner of Jr. Independencia and calle Gamarra.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 7:00-12:00 and 17:00-20:00.
The high altar, the polychrome altarpieces, the eighteenth
century pulpit and the lectern from which San Francisco
Solano predicted the earthquake that destroyed Trujillo
in 1 619, are all worthy of admiration. Prominent are
the figures that decorate the church, depicting characters
from the Scriptures or, in the gallery across the church,
the lives of the saints. The ancient convent is the current
site of San Juan School, where poet Cesar Vallejo once
taught.
La Merced
Church
Jr. Francisco Pizarro 550.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 7:00-12:00 and 17:00-20:00.
The façade of this church has superimposed architectural
orders, the pendentive represents passages from the life
of San Pedro Nolasco. The rococo style organ in the high
choir stall is the only one of its kind in the city.
Iturregui Palace
Jr. Pizarro 668.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 8:00 10:00.
Built in the nineteenth century, this is the best example
of neoclassic civil architecture, which remains unchanged
to this day. It is now the headquarters of Club Central,
the first social center in Trujillo. Outstanding are its
columns, railings on the windows and Italian marble statues.
Facalá Stately
Home
Jr. Pizarro 314.
Visits: Monday to Friday 9:30-13:00 and 17:00-20:00 Sunday
9:30-13:00.
Containing a valuable coin collection, the main attractions
are the large main courtyard with an ancient artesian
well and a Mudejar style corner balcony.
Bracamonte
House
Jr. Independencia 441, Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday, 7:00-19:00.
Ancestral home of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,
with viceroyal and republican style patios. Outstanding
are its large wooden gateway and its traditional iron
windows.
Ganoza Chopitea
House
Jr. Independencia 630.
The most representative house in the city, given its architectural
and decorative properties. Its polychrome baroque portal
is crowned with a rococo gable and two lions, therefore
it is often referred to as the House with the Lion Portal.
It has mannerist style murals, imperial windows and a
neo-baroque balcony.
Mariscal
de Orbegoso House
Jr. Orbegoso 553.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:30-13:00 and17:00-20:00.
This home maintains its character as a traditional viceroyal
house, with stone floors and the doors and rooms distributed
on a high terreplain. It contains a top quality collection
of furniture, silverware, canvasses, and mirrors and is
the site of cultural exhibitions.
Emancipación
House
Jr. Pizarro 610.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:30-13:00 and 17:00-20:00.
Referred to as the Civic Sanctuary of Trujillo, because
it is where Marques de Torre Tagle planned the city’s
independence in 1 820. It was the site of the first Constituent
Congress and the Government Palace for Riva Agüero.
It is currently the site of permanent cultural exhibitions.
Calonge House or Urquiaga
House
Jr. Pizarro 446.
Visits: Monday to Friday 9:30-13:00, by appointment.
Headquarters of the Central Reserve Bank, this is a neoclassic
style house/museum which houses the desk of Simon Bolivar,
gold Chimu orgaments and viceroyal and republican furniture.
Trujillo University Archaeological
Museum
Jr. Junín 682.
Phone: (044) 24-9322.
Visits: Monday 9:00-14:00, Tuesday to Friday 9:30-13:00;
Saturday and Sunday 9:30-16:30.
One of the best equipped museums in Peru, with cultural
expressions from the department’s various pre/Hispanic
periods, particularly pottery, textiles, metallurgy and
artwork with feathers.
José
Cassinelli Collection
Av. Nicolás de Piérola 607, in the basement
of the service station with the same name.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:30-13:30 and 15:30-19:00.
A collection of valuable pieces of different cultures,
including the Recuay culture, the only ones of their kind.
Zoology Museum
Jr. San Martín 368.
Phone: (044) 23-5841.
Visits: Monday to Friday 7:00-19:00.
A display of various species of fauna typical of the region,
such as birds, fishes, reptiles, insects and camelidae.
El Carmen Art Gallery
Corner of calle Colón and calle Bolívar.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-13:00.
This belongs to the El Carmen Monastery and contains valuable
viceroyal paintings and decorative objects. |
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| OTHER ATTRACTIONS |
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| The churches of La Compañía
de Jesús; Santa Clara; Santo Domingo; Jesús
María y José; Santa Ana; San Lorenzo, Santa
Rosa; and The Divine Saviour of Mansiche. |
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| OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
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Chan Chan, (Janj-Janj
in the Mochica dialect, meaning Sun-Sun).
Located in the Moche valley, 5 km from the city.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-17:00.
About a 10 minute drive from Trujillo, this was the largest
mud city in pre-Hispanic America. It was the capital of
the Gran Chimu Kingdom and covered 20 km2, from the proximity
of Port Huanchaco to Mount Campana, with an estimated
population of over 100 thousand people. The citadel consists
of squares, dwellings, warehouses, workshops, mazes, walls,
excellent paths and pyramid temples. Its enormous walls
were intricately decorated with geometric figures, zoomorphic
and mythological characters.
The archaeological complex was declared a Cultural Heritage
of Mankind. There is a museum on the site.
El
Brujo Archaeological Complex
Situated in the Chicama Valley, 34 km from Trujillo, about
1 h and 25 minutes by car.
Visits: by appointment only.
This is one of the most valuable archaeological monuments
on Peru’s northern coast, since this is where a
number of cultures developed since the pre-Ceramic period
(5 000 years ago), until the viceroyal period.
Huaca del Sol
This burial ground is situated in the Moche countryside,
8 km from Trujillo, about 15 minutes by car. It is an
unevenly shaped pyramid more than 20 m tall.
According to tradition, it was built in only three days,
using 250 thousand men and about 70 million adobe bricks.
It preserves the beautiful harmony of its volumetric features,
with platforms placed at regular intervals. It was used
for funeral and ceremonial purposes and possibly also
as an administrative and dwelling place for the elite.
Huaca de la Luna
8 km from Trujillo, about 15 minutes by car.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-17:00.
This burial ground is also situated in the Moche valley,
opposite Huaca del Sol. It is much smaller, but there
are still some murals left on the top of the walls, with
clearly defined outlines, depicting the face of the god
AI-APAEK. It is a 21 m tall monument of superimposed temples,
a treasure chest of marvelous surprises, in which archaeologists
discovered a tomb containing more than 40 sacrificed warriors.
Huaca El Dragón
o Arcoiris
5 km from Trujillo, about 15 minutes by car. Decorated
with anthropomorphous figures and stylized figures resembling
a centipede.
Huaca
La Esmeralda
Situated in the El Cortijo Cooperative, 3 k. from Trujillo,
about 8 minutes by car. It comprises various superimposed
terraces, to which access is gained by ramps.
Huanchaco Beach Resort
Situated 13 km northwest of Trujillo, this area is famous
for its caballitos de totora*. Like all beaches on the
northern coast of Peru, this is a favorite spot for surfers. |
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| OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST |
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Tomabal Castle; Queneto Petroglyphs;
Huaca de los Reyes; the archaeological ruins of Viracocha
Pampa, Yanazara and Marcahuamachuco; the Cachicadán
thermal baths; the former sugar plantations of Casagrande;
Cartavio; Roma; Chiclín and Laredo; the Algarrobal
del Moro archaeological complex, among others.
(*) Caballitos de Totora:
Artisanal totora reed rafts from Mochica times used
by fishermen to fish in the sea. Two types of fishing
is practiced: one using bait (individual fishing) and
another using a fishnet (requiring two men). |
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| FOLKLORE |
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| The northern Marinera dance, cock fights,
Peruvian Pace Horses, etc. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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| Mostly straw and carved leather items, as
well as wood carvings, silver filigree, robes, ponchos
and woolen shawls from Otuzco, Huamachuco and Pataz. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes:
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Cebiche (chopped raw fish marinated
in lime, with onions and hot chili peppers) |
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Seco de cabrito con frijoles (tender goat stew,
marinated in chicha de jora and vinegar and served
with beans cooked in onions and garlic). |
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Shambar (wheat soup with pork, pulses, coriander
and hot chili peppers). |
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Sopa teóloga (chicken soup with soaked
bread, potatoes, milk and cheese) |
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Frijoles a la Trujillana (black beans with sesame
seeds and red chili peppers) |
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Pepián de Pava (turkey stew with rice,
tender crushed corn, coriander and hot chili peppers).
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Pescado a la Trujillana (steamed fish with an
egg and onion sauce) |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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National Marinera
Competition (January)
A competition in which members of dance academies from
all over the country participate. A queen is elected and
there is a prize for the best typical costume. This is
the best opportunity to enjoy the display of northern
“marinera” dancers.
Surfing
Competition (March)
This takes place in Malabrigo breach, 70 k. north of Trujillo,
which has the longest waves in the world. Surfers from
different places compete in this event.
International
Spring Festival (September / October)
Competitions of the different variations of the “marinera”
dance are held during this festival.
Throughout the week, all the streets and houses are decorated,
there are float parades, and teams of school children
dance through the streets, led by the Spring Queen.
Virgen de la Puerta de
Otuzco Festival (December)
This virgin is considered to be the Patron of the North
of Peru and the Queen of World Peace. The main celebration
is on the 15th, referred to as THE DAY, when the image
of the virgin is taken down from its altar, whilst the
public chant canticles, pray and deposit miracles and
jewelry. This is followed by a procession. |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Carlos Martinez de Pinillos
Highway to Huanchaco s/n.
Phone: (044) 46-4013.
Open: Monday to Sunday 7:00-21:00.
Land Transport
Although there are no bus terminals, most transport
companies line up on blocks 2 and 3 of Av. Del Ejercito,
block 28 of Av. America Sur, block 1 of Av. Mansiche
and block 4 of Jr. Amazonas.
Health Centers
Belén Hospital of Trujillo.
Jr. Bolivar 350.
Phone: (044) 24-5381.
24 hour service
Regional Teaching Hospital of Trujillo
Av. Mansiche 795.
Phone: (044) 23-1581.
24 hour service
Huanchaco Health Center
Jr. Atahualpa 128, Huanchaco.
Phone: (044) 46-1547.
24 hour service
Chicama Health Center, Ascope Province
Calle Grau 495, Chicama.
Phone: (044) 54-0167.
24 hour service
Police Stations
Region III National Police Force
Bolognesi 428.
Phone: (044) 22-2034 / 24-3758.
Open: Monday to Sunday 8:00-20:00.
Tourist Police
Jirón Independencia 630.
Phone: (044) 29-1705.
Open: Monday to Sunday 8:00-20:00.
Handicrafts Markets
Liga de Artesanos
Jr. Colón 423
Phone: (044) 20-0086
Open: Monday to Saturday 9:00-12:00 and 15:00-19:00
Trujillo Association of Small Manufacturers and Craftsmen
APIAT.
Av. España block 18.
Phone: (044) 22-0627.
Open: 9:00-13:00 y 16:00-21:00.
Post Office
Jr. independencia 286, Trujillo.
Phone: (044) 24-5941 / 20-0052 / 24-5941.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00, Sunday 9:00-13:00. |
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