Zaña and Chepén

The ruined Spanish town of Zaña (also spelt Saña), lies 51 km south of Chiclayo. Zaña was destroyed by floods in 1726, and sacked by English pirates on more than one occasion. The ruins of five colonial churches and the convents of San Agustín, La Merced and San Francisco bear witness to the former splendour of this town which, at one time, was destined to become the countrys capital. Further south, on the Pan-American Highway to Trujillo, lies Chepén. The town itself is not particularly fascinating but Cerro Chepén, towering over it, is the site of an ancient fortress from the Middle Horizon (late Moche/Huari). The fortress contains the ruins of what may be a palace, surrounded by other buildings. The as yet unexcavated site could have been the main station in a chain of lookout posts along the north coast. Take any Trujillo bus, US$1.50.