Long before the Inca empire came into prominence, the Chimu empire dominated northern Peru since around 1100, and their capital was based in Chan Chan, a few minutes bus ride out of Trujillo. After the Incas conquered the Chimu, Chan Chan was apparently largely abandoned, and the desert around Trujillo started to take over.
Today, Chan Chan is slowly being restored, with the temple citadel at the heart of Chan Chan the closest to full restoration. Unlike the Andean civilisations, the Chimus used mud to build Chan Chan, and not stone. However, like their Andean counterparts, their buildings have also stood the test of countless earthquakes. There are a few other parts of Chan Chan that have been restored and open to the public. However, as we were leaving Trujillo that afternoon, we did not have time to visit the other places.
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