Trujillo, Peru

New winds are blowing in Peru these days, with the inauguration if the new government leaded by Alejandro Toledo the issues of people with disabilities have taken an important place in our country’s public life. Regarding tourism the goal is to have three and a half million tourists visiting Peru each year by the year 2006. We are lobbying the new authorities in order to try to set the goal that 10% of those be people with disabilities. Undoubtedly a very big challenge for our country, but also a very exciting one.

Let’s put politics aside and "get to the beef", in this third article about Peru we will tour two totally different Peruvian cities: Trujillo and Iquitos. The first one is the home of the Moche Culture, the "Marinera" (a beautiful and very sensual dance), and the largest area in the north of Peru where the Peruvian Paso Horse is bred. Iquitos is the most important city of Peru’s section of the Amazon Rainforest, where you will find a very unusual mixture of cultures: from witch doctors to Fitzcarraldo to a tin house designed by Eiffel that stands proudly on the main square of the city.

The city of Trujillo is located in the Province of La Libertad on theNorth coast of the country, at an altitude of 11.52 feet (34 m) above sea level. The annual average temperature is 66.02ºF/18.9ºC (maximum of 86ºF/30ºC and a minimum of 61ºF/16ºC). The rainy season is from June to August. You can get there by land (350.6 miles/561 Km) using the North Pan-American highway, which takes about 8 hours by car.  There are several daily flights from Lima to Trujillo (about 45 min.).

The Cap. FAP Carlos Martinez de Pinillos Airport located at Carretera Huanchaco s/n Distrito de Huanchaco, Trujillo and is the airport that serves the city of Trujillo. The parking lot is at the same level as the building. Entrance and exit doors are wide enough and at street level. There is a visual information system for people with hearing impairments and the audio information is very clear. Public phones are too high for people in wheelchairs, but they do have volume control. Restrooms located in the boarding room are accessible, with a door width of 33.15 inches (0.85 m) and a toilet stall specially adapted for people in wheelchairs. The route from the counters to the boarding rooms and the Police, Migrations and Customs areas is accessible. There are wheelchairs available for passengers. The airport does not have jetways or platform elevators. One can ask the airline about boarding chairs and, if they do not have them, these can be borrowed from another company. The areas between the arrival gate and the exit from the luggage claim and the exit of the airport are accessible.

The Incas, after encountering great resistance, conquered this kingdom in the 15th century. In 1534 with the arrival of the Spanish to this valley, Trujillo was founded, and it became one of the most important cities of the viceroyalty. Trujillo was the first city of northern Peru that proclaimed its independence on December 29th, 1820. Nowadays, it is one of the important economical and cultural centers of northern Peru. It is the capital of typical dances, such as the Marinera and the Resbalosa, land of the Peruvian Paso horse and beautiful beaches where traditional reed boats, caballitos de totora (little totora horses) still sail.
 

Chan Chan (In Mochica dialect: Janj-Janj, Sun-Sun). Located in the Moche valley, at 3.1 miles (5 Km) and about 10 minutes by car from the city. It is the biggest Clay City in pre-Hispanic America. It was the capital of the kingdom of the Gran Chimú and its extends from the Huanchaco port to the Campana Mountain (12.5 sq. Miles/20 Km2), and it is estimated that it had more than 100,000 habitants. The citadel is formed by squares, houses, deposits, workshops, labyrinths, and city walls, excellent roads and pyramid shaped temples. Its enormous walls have been generously decorated with raised geometric figures, animal stylization and mythological creatures. UNESCO has declared the archaeological complex Cultural Mankind Heritage Monument. It has a local museum. . The area of Chan Chan, which is opened to the public, is accessible with help. There are no steps but the sand trails makes movement difficult for people in wheelchairs. The visitor center is also accessible with help. There is only one step to the exhibition area, the ticket counter and the souvenir shop (door of 31.2 inches /0.80 m wide). There are no accessible public restrooms. The museum located inside the Chan Chan complex is very accessible. It has an entrance ramp and wide doors. The exhibited objects are at a good height having been designed with children in mind. The new auditorium presents models of Chan Chan that have light and audio systems. People using wheelchairs and persons with limited physical mobility can enter through the exit and use the ramp to reach the exhibition. In the auditorium there are no seats. It is a unique exhibition. Public restrooms are not accessible.

Archaeological Complex El Brujo - Located in the Chicama valley, at 21.3 miles (34 Km) of Trujillo and about 1.25 hours by car. It is one of the most priceless archaeological monuments in the northern Peruvian coast, because many cultures developed here since the pre-ceramic period (5,000 years ago) until the viceroyalty period. We will be visiting this site on mid September and we will give you more details about accessibility there.

Huaca del Sol.- Located in the Campiña de Moche at 5 miles (8 Km) and about 15 minutes by car from Trujillo. It is a dazzling pyramid that is more than 65.6 ft (20 m) high. According to the tradition, it was built in three days, employing 250,000 men and using approximately 70 million bricks adobes. It has an amazing beautiful harmony and dazzling platforms. It was used for funerary, ceremonial and probably administrative and elite housing purposes. This Huaca has not yet been excavated, therefore you will be able to see the pyramid but visitors are not allowed to visit it yet.

Huaca de la Luna. - Located at 5 miles (8 Km) and about 15 min by car from the city of Trujillo. This "Huaca" is in front of the Huaca del Sol, in the Valle de Moche. It is smaller, but in its high adobe walls there are some murals with very well defined borders, where one can find the face of god AI-APAEK. It is a monument with different temples, a box of great surprises. Its height reaches 68.8-ft. (21 m). Archeologists have discovered a tomb with more than 40 sacrificed warriors. This archaeological site can be visited by people using wheelchairs, with the help of at least three persons per wheelchair. It is a must for people who visit northern Peru. The experience of seeing the figure of the "Degollador" (Be header) is extraordinary. The view of the Huaca del Sol from the top of the Huaca de la Luna is another must. There are several ramps in the areas that have been rebuilt, all of them with steep slope, and also a series of stairs, especially on the way to the exit of the complex. The complex does not have accessible public restrooms.

Huaca La Esmeralda. - Located in the Cooperativa de Producción El Cortijo at 1.9 miles (3 Km) and about 8 min by car away from the city of Trujillo. It is formed by several terraces, which one can access via ramps.

National Competition of Marinera (January)

• Competitions in which the marinera dance academies of the whole country participate; a queen is chosen and there is a prize for the best typical dress. This is the best opportunity to enjoy the marinera norteña.

Surfboard Championship (March)

• It takes place at the Malabrigo beach at 43.8 miles (70 Km) north of Trujillo. Surfers from different places participate in this event. Here one can find the world’s longest waves.

International Spring Festival (September/ October)

• During the festival season, competitions of marinera and its several variants take place. In this week all streets and houses are decorated for the occasion. There are parades in allegorical cars and school dancers in the streets, led by the spring queen.

Festivity of the Virgen de la Puerta of Otuzco (December)

• Considered as the Patroness of Northern Peru and Queen of World Peace. Her feast is celebrated the 15th, named the Day of the Day. On this day her image is taken down from its altar, while the public sings, prays, and gives offerings and jewels to thank her for the miracles granted. Later, the procession takes place.

The most important hotels in the city of Trujillo are not totally accessible, none of them have adapted rooms, but some are usable by people using wheelchairs. As of February 2001 all Hotels are required to refurbish one of every 25 rooms in order to turn it into a wheelchair accessible room. We suppose that these works will start later this year and completed by mid 2002.

• Gran Hotel El Golf  is a five-star hotel that has 120 rooms and an internal and level parking lot. There are five steps between the parking lot and the main entrance. The reception counter is 3.28-ft (1.00 m) high. The rooms are spacious and the width of the entrance door is 29.25 inches (0.75 m). The bathrooms are big and the shower has a hand held shower head, but these are not accessible to wheelchairs because the door is 25.74 inches (0.66 m) wide. The rooms have audio alarm systems and telephone with luminous signals. Light and radio controls are easy to reach from the bed. The public restrooms located near the pool are bigger than the others are. The door is 31.59 inches (0.81 m) wide and they have enough space inside to maneuver the wheelchair, but there are no accessible toilet stalls. The bar, the restaurant and the pool are accessible once the person is inside the building. The conference room is not accessible because it is on the second floor and there is no elevator. There are no telephones located at lowered height. There are no services for people with other types of disabilities. In the near future, they plan to remodel four rooms to make them accessible.

• Hoteles Libertador Trujillo  is a four-star hotel with 78 rooms. It does not have a private parking lot. The entrance to the reception area is level, but there are two steps on the way to the lobby, the conference room and the elevator in the right wing. There is a removable wooden ramp with steep slope in this area. The reception counter is 3.60-ft (1.10 m) high. The elevators are antique, narrow and do not have a tactile, audio or luminous mechanism. The entrance door of the rooms is 30.81 inches wide. There are no rooms with accessible bathrooms because they are too small for wheelchair maneuvering. The hotel does not have accessible public restrooms in the restaurant, bar and pool. These areas are accessible only with help because there are steps to get into these places.

• Hostal Bracamonte  is a three-star hostel with 26 rooms and an indoor parking lot. The main entrance is accessible. There are many bungalows with level access. At the moment of making this evaluation they were building new rooms. The new required measurements will give more comfort to tourists with disabilities. One of the bungalows evaluated has a door 30.42 inches (0.78 m) wide, but the entrance is passing through an opening that is 26.52 (0.68 m) inches wide. There is very little space in the room, but this can be solved by removing the third bed. The bathroom is not accessible (the door has a width of 21.45 inches /0.55 m). There is a ramp leading to the pool, but this has steps (five), so access must be done with help. The restaurant is accessible without help and so is the bar. Public restrooms are not accessible.

• Hostal Caballito de Totora  is a three-star hostel that has 18 rooms. The most accessible rooms are those on the first floor and those near the pool. The main entrance allows people to enter to the restaurant, but not to the pool or the external rooms. In order to go to these rooms one has to enter through the parking lot. The two most accessible rooms are precisely the ones that are in front of the parking lot and the small courtyard with plants, which is very cozy. The room doors are 28.86 inches (0.74 m) wide. The bathroom door is narrow (26.91 inches / 0.69 m wide), but the interior is big. They do not have telephone or TV in the rooms, because the hotel offers different alternatives for relaxation which are more in contact with the open air. Sometimes there are musical performances in the evenings. They plan to remodel the rooms for people with disabilities.

• Hostal Las Palmeras  is a three-star hostel with 20 rooms and an internal parking lot at the same level as the main entrance, which has a fixed concrete ramp with steep slope, though without hand rail, so one will need some help. It has a room with a ramp that they plan to adapt for people who use wheelchairs. One can access the restaurant, the bar and pool without help.

Trujillo’s most important restaurants are: El Mochia, Restaurante Heladeria Demarco and El Rincón del Mariscal. The best restaurants in the Huanchaco area are: Huanchaco Beach and Club Colonial. Please go to the Access-Able database and select Access Guide/Tours for specific information about dining access and cuisine. Or click HERE.

Archaeology, Anthropology and History Museum Universidad Nacional de Trujillo  The museum shows the development of the historical process of the northern coast from the arrival of the first inhabitants 12,000 years ago until the arrival of the Spaniards in 1532. The house that hosts the museum was built in the 17th century. There is no parking lot. The entrance is accessible with help (there is one step between the street and the main courtyard and four steps between the latter and the entrance to the museum). The museum has only one floor that has connected rooms that are all on the same level. The service counter is 3.9-ft (1.20 m) high. There are no accessible public restrooms. There are no exhibitions that have been designed taking the needs of deaf or blind people into consideration. The information panels are located at an adequate height so people using wheelchairs can read them. The souvenir shop is accessible without help. It is an interesting museum that we recommend before visiting the "Huacas" del Sol and de la Luna, in order to know more about these archaeological complexes.

Palacio Iturregui  Built in the 19th century, it is the best example of neoclassical civil architecture. It is the headquarters of the "Club Central", first social center of Trujillo and for the exclusive use of its members. However people who are interested can visit it at certain hours. Its columns, window grilles and Italian marble statues are special features. The main entrance is level as far as the main courtyard. There are five steps to access the interior of the palace. There is an antique elevator to go to the second floor. It is a museum piece and in perfect working condition. It has a hand rail and enough space for a person using a wheelchair, but the help of a second person is necessary because of its folding grilles, which can be difficult to operate. The museum is on the second floor and the entrance is easier through the offices, because the regular route has two steps. Here you can view a ceramic vessel collection of the Moche culture. The objects are at a convenient height to be seen from a wheelchair, but the information panels are not, and the print size makes them very difficult to read. You can access the dining area without help once you are inside the building. There are no accessible public restrooms. The public restrooms are very big, with exception of the toilet stalls. If you want to have lunch or dinner there you must make arrangements in advance with the administration. In this case it is required that one dress formally.

Church of El Carmen  Built in 1759, it is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city. It consists of a temple and a monastery with two cloisters. It contains 150 paintings, mostly of the 17th and 18th centuries, and also paintings of the Quito Art School. The main entrance to the courtyard is accessible, but the entrance to the church and the art gallery has 6 and 5 steps, respectively. Objects are exhibited at less than 3.9-ft (1.20 m) high. The exhibition is well arranged and illuminated. There are no signals or explanation texts in large print. The language used is only Spanish. Blind people can touch some objects. The restroom of the art gallery is not accessible. The entrance to the church, once you are upstairs, is easier through the left wing, because the main door has a lintel and a second set of narrow doors. One should arrange in advance to use this secondary access. The sacristy’s restroom is accessible, with a door of 34.71 inches (0.89 m) wide and enough interior space to maneuver a wheelchair. This church is worth visiting in order to appreciate the central altar and museum pictures, most of which, however, are in a reserved area of the cloister.

Inkanatura Travel  This company provides a personal and specialized service to people with disabilities. Two tourist guides -Mercedes Castillo and Ingeborg Zielinski - went with our consultants group during the whole tour in Trujillo in order to learn the requirements of tourists with special needs. Ingeborg is a very skilled multilingual person and she really has the knowledge, patience and dedication to take proper care of people with disabilities. We strongly suggest you contact her if you’re planning on visiting Trujillo. They offer very comfortable transportation with vans that can transport wheelchairs, an excellent guide service in several languages and all kinds of tourist services.

Trujillo Tours  The company has a lot of guidance experience around the city. Offering a professional and personalized treatment, they have the best contacts to make your visit to Trujillo a unique experience.
 

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