Discover El Brujo! The perfect tourist attraction to escape routine and learn more about our history

"Discovering unites us" is the new promotional campaign of El Brujo that invites us to get to know this archaeological site, full of history, science, tradition and mysticism. Come and be part of a journey into the past, where every spot combines knowledge about our ancestors with many secrets yet to be revealed.   

Located in the lower valley of the Chicama River, facing the sea, in the Magdalena de Cao district of the province of Ascope, in La Libertad, about 60 km north of the city of Trujillo, the El Brujo Archaeological Complex houses material evidence of 14 thousand years of the history and culture of the northern coast of Peru.   

In this cultural space of 100 hectares of extension, the pre-Hispanic constructions known as Huaca Cao Viejo, Huaca Prieta, Huaca Cortada rise, together with a beautiful Site Museum and a research center that offer visitors the possibility of learning about the most remarkable findings of the place, as well as the work of its technical team.  

This site is known worldwide for the discovery of the Lady of Cao, a woman belonging to the elite of the Mochica culture who was found in Huaca Cao Viejo, and whose mummified body you will be able to contemplate in room 6 of the site museum. The find of this character, now a national icon, is a fact so far unique in Peruvian archaeology, due to her biological sex, the presence of an imposing funerary bundle unchanged for hundreds of years, its extraordinary state of conservation and the number of objects associated with her death.  

What to do in El Brujo?   

If you are interested in visiting El Brujo, in this note we tell you what services are available and all the experiences that you can enjoy.   

Activities for the whole family:  

Classic Tour  

This is the preferred route of visitors to the El Brujo Archaeological Complex because, through a short tour they can get to know the most important spaces of the place, including a visit to Huaca Cao Viejo and the Site Museum. It is the perfect route for families traveling with children and who have limited time.  

The Site Museum  

After your tour in the archaeological zone of the El Brujo Archaeological Complex, whichever route you have decided to choose, you cannot miss the visit to the site museum and its 7 rooms.  

Activities for researchers:  

Specialized Tour  

This is a route aimed at travelers interested in the culture and especially in archeology. It includes a visit to the four most important archaeological sites of the El Brujo Archaeological Complex, the Site Museum, Huaca Cao Viejo, Huaca Prieta, and the impressive Huaca Cortada.   

Visit to the warehouses of El Brujo   

This unique experience is conducted by the team of archaeologists and curators of El Brujo. They will take you on a guided tour of (2) warehouses of cultural goods of your interest, located in the work areas of the research center, not open to the general public. Also, you may participate in a personalized workshop in the laboratory and you will take away a gift prepared by yourself. This is an incredible opportunity to learn in an experiential way and have close contact with the world of science and archaeology!  

In addition to all the above, El Brujo offers you other activities and personalized experiences. To enjoy them, you just have to contact the visitor service number: +51 933 412 730 or go to www.elbrujo.pe/tienda and make the reservation before your experience.  

Free audio guided service:  

In El Brujo, all our visitors have the possibility of taking a guided tour of excellent quality. Our audio guided service was created on the basis of all the research work carried out in the archaeological complex, including the most recent ones. This service is also associated with the panels, located along all routes. Make sure you bring your smartphone with enough battery and internet service so that you can quickly download the route that you choose before starting the tour.  

IMPORTANT: If you prefer to enjoy the services of a professional tour guide, you can check  the national directory of Tourist Service Providers and hire the one you prefer before starting your trip to El Brujo.

How to get there?

If you arrive from Trujillo or Chiclayo, you must go to Chocope and then to Magdalena de Cao, Ascope. If you use public transport, you can take a bus from Trujillo to Chocope (1 hour) and then take a taxi to the complex (20 additional minutes).    

For more details on the routes to get to El Brujo, go here.   

Visiting hours are Monday through Sunday, except December 25 and January 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission costs 10 soles, while retirees and university students pay half (5 soles) and schoolchildren only 1 sol. Moreover, the residents of the district of Magdalena de Cao enter free of charge. For reservations and more guidance for your next visit, you can contact + 51 933 412 730. We are waiting for you!