Making the most of Salaverry
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Salaverry itself has little of interest to show.
The port is about a 30-minute drive (17 km) from Trujillo.
A taxi may cost US$10 per hour. Drivers usually wait beyond the port gates, less than 1 kilometre from the jetties.
Official taxis display postcard-sized municipal stickers bearing the city's coat of arms. Drivers may use a surprising range of lies and tactics to take you to more distant, expensive and isolated hotels or destinations, seeking to monopolise your future business. Taxis associated with the airport, port and more expensive coach companies are the most ambitious.
Salaverry is a small, uninteresting town; this port's real appeal is the culture of the Moche and Chimi peoples. Chan Chan is an interesting site of adobe structures with many compounds, hucas and ceremonial centres. The Moche people's Hunca de luna is outstanding, with remarkable wall art, and the nearby museum is wonderful.
Getting around
Taxis suit more adventurous travellers; otherwise, remain with a ship's tour.
Nearby places
Peru's Salaverry port provides access to Trujillo, the country's second-largest city, beautifully positioned before the Andean foothills. Much of its colonial character survives in old churches, balconied houses and courtyards hung with flowering baskets. Plaza de Armas stands before the cathedral and has a sculpture marking Peru's liberation. Historic mansions open to the public include the House of Emancipation, where independence from Spain was declared. The archaeological museum contains a fascinating ancient-pottery display.
Money
Peru uses the nuevo sol. ATMs are available in large cities, upmarket hotels and tourist areas.
Staying connected
English is spoken at high-class hotels and in visitor centres such as Cusco and Machu Picchu. Spanish is necessary for other places, particularly the countryside.
Peru's emergency numbers are 011 / 5114. In Lima, call 105.
Cafés offering free Wi-Fi to customers, known in Peru as cabinas públicas, are spreading like mushrooms across the country.
Opening Hours and
Most companies open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Shopping centres and shops trade from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm, although some businesses now remain open 24 hours a day.