Nightlife in Trujillo

Trujillo is pretty quiet except on weekends, when it springs to life. A few nightclubs and penas are clustered in the centro, but most of the hopping discos that go all night are very local and young affairs, on the outskirts of the city. Trujillo has a surprising roster of casinos and movie houses (including two multiplexes showing recently arrived English-language films), and those are as good as any destination for an evening out.

Las Tinajas, Pizarro 383 , with a balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas, is a pretty chic and popular bar with a downstairs disco, good for drinks midweek. On weekends, it features live rock and pop; the cover is S/5 (USD 1.50). El Estribo, San Martin 810, is a lively and large open music hall with pena music and Mariah Carey wannabes occasionally performing. The cover charge is S/7 (USD 2). La Canana, San Martin 791 (tel. 044/232-503), is another nearby pena with a good restaurant and live music and dancing on weekends. The cover is usually about S/10 (USD 3).

Luna Rota, at America Sur 2119 in the Santa Maria district at the end of Huayna Capac , is an all-in-one complex with a thumping disco for teenagers, a pub, and a casino for slightly more mature folks. The cover in the disco and pub is S/7 to S/10 (USD 2-USD 3).

Cine Primavera, Orbegoso 239, near the Plaza de Armas , has first-run American and European films in their original languages and draws long lines of moviegoers. Among the collection of casinos along Orbegoso and Pizarro is Casino Solid Gold, Orbegoso 554. Open daily 24 hours, it has cocktail waitresses in flashy short skirts and a low-rent Vegas feel to it; its cheesy theme is “Chan Chan Lost World.”