Port of Salaverry cruise port guide

Port of Salaverry — Salaverry, Peru.

Salaverry is the port for Trujillo, a colonial city on Peru's northern coast and the gateway to extraordinary pre-Inca sites: Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the Americas, and the Moche temples of the Sun and Moon.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Salaverry?

Ships dock at the jetties of Salaverry's commercial port, in a small town about 14–17 km south-east of Trujillo, so the city and its archaeological sites are not walkable. The drive to Trujillo is often quoted at around half an hour, though Holland America allows about an hour each way for its own motorcoach transfer, which drops you at a central point and is sold as an excursion (from $49 on its site). Taxis usually wait just outside the port gates, under a kilometre from the jetties; use an official cab and agree the price before you set off. For most visitors, a ship's tour is the simplest way to see the sites.

Getting around

Excursions or taxis are the best way to reach Trujillo and the archaeological sites.

Don't miss

• Chan Chan — a UNESCO-listed Chimú adobe city.
• Huacas del Sol y de la Luna — Moche temples with colourful murals.
• Huanchaco — a beach town with traditional reed boats (caballitos de totora).
• Trujillo's historic centre — colonial mansions and plaza.

Planning your day

Visit Chan Chan and the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, then relax in Huanchaco.

Food & drink

Northern Peruvian cuisine.

Where to eat

• Huanchaco restaurants — Seafood by the sea.

Must try

• Ceviche — Fresh fish marinated in lime.
• Cabrito — Slow-cooked goat.

Know before you go

• 🗣️Language — Spanish.
• 📋Documents — Carry your passport or the ID your cruise line requires; most visitors on a cruise call need no visa.
• 🛍️Shopping & hours — Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN).
• 🌤️Weather — Dry and mild year-round.
• 📶Connectivity — Good coverage in Trujillo.
• ♿Accessibility — Archaeological sites have uneven ground.
• ⏱️Getting back — Allow time for the drive back to the port.

Sources: peru.travel; whc.unesco.org/en/list/366