Piura

Piura Practical Guide for Travelers

Piura

Elevation

Min.:

Max.:

10 ft (3 m) (Paita and Los Órganos)

8,888

Weather

Temperature

Coast

Max.: 90 °F (32 °C)

Min.: 66 °F (19 °C)

How to get here?

By land

From Lima: 610 miles / 981 km (15 h)

Tumbes-Piura: 173 miles / 278 km (5 h 30 min)

Cajamarca-Piura: 296 miles / 476 km (9 h)

Chiclayo-Piura: 130 miles / 209 km (3 h)

Trujillo-Piura: 261 miles / 420 km (6 h)

Tarapoto-Piura: 342 miles / 550 km (18 h)

By air

Lima-Piura: 1 h 30 min

Lima-Talara: 1 h 45 min

to Tumbes to Ecuador

Playa Las Pocitas

Playa Vichayito

Playa Los Órganos

Punta Veleros

Playa El Ñuro

Playa Cabo Blanco

Playa Lobitos

Talara

Negritos

Approved by DR 0277/RE of September 28, 2016. The borders indicated make no claims over international boundaries.

Playa Punta Balcones

Lobitos El Alto

Máncora

Los Órganos

Los Pilares de la quebrada Fernández

Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape

Coto de Caza El Angolo

TALARA

SULLANA

San Felipe de Vichayal

Amotape

San Jacinto

Salitral Querecotillo

San Miguel de Tangarará Bellavista Marcavelica

La Huaca Pueblo Nuevo

Playa Colán

Bahía de Paita

Playa Yacila

Playa Cangrejos

Caleta La Islilla Isla Foca

Paita

Museo Elba Aranda de Sarango Valle del Chira

Iglesia San Lucas de Colán

Casa Manuela Sáenz

PAITA

Sullana

Iglesia Matriz de Sullana

Lancones

PIURA

Catacaos Castilla

Fortaleza de Narihualá

Cucungará

La Arena

La Unión

Dos Pueblos

Playa San Pedro

Manglares de San Pedro

Bellavista

Bernal

San Cristo

Sechura Playa Chulliyachi

Reserva Nacional Illescas

Médano Blanco

Laguna Ñapique

Estuario de Virrilá

SECHURA

La Casa del Alfarero

PIURA

Tambogrande

La Encantada Sojo

Desierto de Sechura

Tambogrande

Las Lomas

Encantada

Suyo

Bosque de Cuyas

Paimas

Sapillica

AYABACA

Las cataratas de Caracucho

Santo Domingo

Chulucanas

La Matanza

MORROPÓN

Montero

ECUADOR

Cerro Yantuma

Ayabaca

Santuario del Señor

Cautivo de Ayabaca

Lagunas

Complejo arqueológico de Aypate

Pacaipampa

Chalaco

Paltashaco

Morropón

Buenos Aires

Lagunas Las Huaringas

Sapalache

Templo de los Jaguares

Huancabamba

Complejo turístico Peroles de Cascapampa

Salitral

Sondorillo

Sóndor

Canchaque

San Miguel de El Faique

HUANCABAMBA

Sechura

LAMBAYEQUE

Catarata de Citán

Huarmaca

CAJAMARCA

to Cajamarca to Amazonas

Distances

By private transportation, from the city of Piura

DESTINATION

Sullana (Sullana Province) 24 miles (39 km) 35 min

Sechura (Sechura Province) 31 miles (50 km) 55 min

Paita (Paita Province) 37 miles (60 km) 45 min

Chulucanas (Morropón Province) 37 miles (60 km) 45 min

Talara (Talara Province)

Huancabamba (Huancabamba Province)

Ayabaca (Ayabaca Province)

75 miles (120 km) 1 h 30 min

133 miles (214 km) 7 h

142 miles (229 km) 6 h

Tours

1 day

3 days and 2 nights

3 days (minimum recommended stay)

City tour of museums and churches in the city of Piura, visit to Catacaos and Chulucanas.

Paita beach circuit (Colán and Yacila), Talara beach circuit (Máncora, Las Pocitas, Vichayito, Punta Veleros, Los Órganos, and swimming with turtles in El Ñuro), walk through the dry forest of Pilares at the Fernández gorge.

On the beaches of northern Peru, summer enjoy its waves, good hotel infrastructure,

summer lasts all year. It is always possible to infrastructure, and renowned gastronomy.

Agenda

February-March

March-April

Carnivals in Bajo Piura: Catacaos and Bernal

Easter Week at Catacaos

March 15 Día de la Algarrobina

July 15

July 16

August 15

September 24

October 13

Start of the whale watching season in Los Órganos

Celebration of the Virgen del Carmen at Huancabamba

Semana Jubilar of Piura

Festivity of the Virgen de las Mercedes of Paita

Feast of Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca

What to eat?

Seafood-based dishes, such as ceviche, is very popular in the coastal area of the region. Other remarkable preparations from Piura include the seco de chabelo (dried meat stew with banana dough), the seco de cabrito (a goat stew macerated in chicha de jora and vinegar, served with a side of beans), the majado de yuca con chicharrón (cooked yuca smooshed with chili pepper) and the chifles (fried banana chips). The best-known dessert from Piura is the natilla, a type of custard made from goat’s milk, panela and rice flour.

What to buy?

Piura is a land of skilled craftsmen. In Catacaos, you will find finely worked crafts and filigree jewelry in gold and silver, as well as toquilla straw fabrics, and wood and Zapote carvings. Chulucanas is a town famous for its pottery, while Talara, Sechura and Paita are known for their work with marine pieces such as shells. In Huancabamba, Ayabaca, and Montero, artisans weave blankets and ponchos using the traditional waist loom technique.

The beaches

are the perfect place to live unique experiences, such as the Ceviche Tour where you can prepare your own cebiche at sea.

What to visit?

Piura Province

Plaza de Armas

The main square is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by tamarind trees planted in 1870. In its center there is a marble statue that represents freedom, a present from President José Balta in 1870, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Peru.

Basílica Catedral San Miguel Arcángel

Jr. Huancavelica 362. Mon-Sun, 6:30-12:30 and 17:00-21:00

The cathedral basilica was founded in 1588 and was dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption and the Archangel St. Michael. It houses an important altarpiece dating back to the 18th century, dedicated to the Virgin of Fatima, worked in Nicaraguan cedar and gold leaf. After the earthquake of 1912, the main altar was rebuilt by the Spanish sculptor Julián Alagua.

Temples

• Iglesia San Sebastián

At the intersection of the Tacna and Moquegua streets. Mon-Sun, 7:00-11:30 and 17:00-20:30. This church was built over the San Sebastián de los Indios chapel, which during the Colony served as a center for the evangelization of the natives.

• Iglesia San Francisco Malecón Eguiguren 516, at the intersection with Lima Street. Mon-Fri, 8:00-11:00 and 16:00-19:30; Sat, 7:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00; Sun, 9:00-11:00 and 16:30-18:30

Built in the 18th century, it was in the atrium of this church that Piura’s independence was proclaimed on January 4, 1821.

• Iglesia del Carmen

Jr. La Libertad 366, in front of the Ignacio Merino square. Mon-Sun, 19:00–20:00. Considered the most baroque church in Piura, it houses important works of colonial art, such as canvases from the Quito school.

Museums and galleries

• Museo del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú - MUCEN Piura

Jr. Huancavelica 346. Mon-Sat, 10:00-17:00. Tel. (073) 329-070.

The Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru has three rooms, exhibiting Vicus archaeological and goldsmithing pieces, a numismatic collection and an art room with paintings by Piura artists, such as Ignacio Merino, Felipe Cossio del Pomar and José Aldana.

• Casa Museo Gran Almirante Miguel Grau

Cl. Tacna 662. Tue-Fri, 9:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 and Sat-Sun, 9:00-16:00.

Tel. (073) 326-541

This is the manor house in which Miguel Grau was born and lived. It shows a display of period furniture, as well as family photos and documents of the Gentleman of the Seas.

• Museo Municipal Vicús y Sala de Oro

Crossing of Avenida Sullana and Jirón Huánuco.

Municipal museum opening hours: Tue-Sat, 9:00-17:00 and Sun, 9:00-13:00. Gold Room Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri, 09:00-15:00.

Tel. (073) 302-803. Entrance fee charged (Gold Room).

The Municipal Museum has eight rooms with free admission and the Gold Room, which displays a collection of 62 goldsmithing pieces dating back to the Vicús culture.

Catacaos

7 miles (12 km) southwest of the city of Piura (15 min by car)

This is a town recognized for the ability of its craftsmen with clay, their wonderful weaves of toquilla straw and cotton, and their delicate filigree products made of gold and silver. It is also known for its delicious food, which makes it a great place to try the regional cuisine.

Fortaleza de Narihualá

Cl. Olmos s/n, Narihualá township (2 miles (3 km) from Catacaos, 5 min by car) Tue-Sun, 9:00-15:30. Tel. (073) 322-307. Entrance fee charged.

The Narihualá Fortress is an archaeological center that covers an area of 6 hectares. It is made up of adobe and mortar platforms and is considered to have been the capital of pre-Inca Tallán culture. It also has a site museum.

La Casa del Alfarero

4 miles (7 km) southwest of the city of Piura (10 min by car)

This workshop, called the Potter's House, is located in the Simbilá township, 5 minutes from Catacaos. Here you can learn and participate in the pottery making process.

Paita Province

Bahía de Paita

37 miles (60 km) west of the city of Piura (1 h by car)

Because of its beautiful seascape, Paita bay is known as “Paita’s Window”.

Casa Manuela Sáenz

Jr. Nuevo del Pozo 390, Paita

Today, only the façade of the former home of Manuela Sáenz, the partner of Simón Bolívar and a precursor of feminism in Latin America, can be visited. A plaque on it reads “Here lived the liberator Simón Bolívar’s liberator”.

Isla Foca

30 minutes by boat from the La Islilla cove

Foca island is located in front of the La Islilla cove, its location favours the presence of a great biodiversity of species, as it is in the convergence zone of the Humboldt current and the equatorial current. Species such as humpback whales, Humboldt penguins, green turtles and sea lions can be spotted here.

Beach Circuit

• Yacila

11 miles (17 km) south of the city of Paita (25 min by car)

Beach with calm waters, ideal for swimming.

• Cangrejos

1.2 miles (2 km) south of Yacila (10 min on foot)

A small beach that congregates lovers of water sports, such as swimming, diving, and fishing.

• Colán

40 miles (65 km) west of the city of Piura (55 min by car) / 9 miles (15 km) from the city of Paita (10 min by car)

A traditional seaside town with wooden mansions that rise on stilts, on the shores of a calm and warm sea.

• Caleta La Islilla

14 miles (22 km) south of the city of Paita (30 min by car)

A fishermen’s cove that stretches along the La Laguna, Hermosa, and Las Gramitas beaches. In front of the cove (30 min by boat) is Foca island, where you can see sea lions, penguins, and guano birds.

Iglesia San Lucas de Colán

0.6 miles (1 km) from the La Esmeralda de Colán seaside town (10 min by foot)

This is considered one of the first churches built in the South Pacific during the 16th century. Made of limestone, it features a wooden tower. The main altar located inside is made of gold leaf and displays the royal coat of arms of the Habsburg family. It also features colonial images from the 16th century.

Museo Elba Aranda de Sarango

On the Sullana-Paita Highway, kilometer 30, northwest of Piura Mon-Sat, 10:00-16:00 and Sun, 12:00-15:00. Entrance fee charged. This is the only paleontological museum in the region exhibiting marine and terrestrial fossils, which have been preserved since the Pleistocene. The tour is complemented by the sight of archaeological pieces, ancient objects and photographs that tell the history of the town of La Huaca.

Sullana Province

Iglesia Matriz de Sullana

In front of the Main Square. Mon-Sun, 6:30-8:00 and 18:00-20:00. This neoclassical church is adorned by a tower on each side.

Villa de San Miguel de Tangarará

Marcavelica District, 3 miles (15 km) north of the city of Sullana (25 min by car) In 1532, the first Spanish city in the South Pacific was founded and given the name of San Miguel. In commemoration of that event, in 1932, an obelisk was erected in the center of its square which still stands today.

Valle del Chira

24 miles (39 km) north of the city of Piura (45 min by car)

The fertile lands of Chira valley are home to rice fields, lemon plantations, and Marcavelica palm trees. At the center of the valley is the city of Sullana, known as Pearl of the Chira.

Coto de Caza El Angolo

71 miles (115 km) north of the city of Sullana (3 h by pickup)

This game preservation is located from an elevation of 1,772 ft (540 m), in the El Angolo township, to 5,292 ft (1,613 m), at the top of the Carrizal Hill. The peaks of the Amotapes mountain range, an area of dry forest and ravines, are some of the remarkable sights visible from this location. It is home to 17 species of mammals (white-tailed deer, cougars, wild cats, anteaters, among others), 150 species of birds (condors, kestrels, and king vultures, among others), 13 species of reptiles, 7 of amphibians and 10 of fish. The flora include faiques, carobs, almond trees, and ceibas. Hunting in the area is regulated.

Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape

The gates to the park are 56 miles (90 km) north of the city of Sullana (3 h by car) in El Papayo township

This national park protects an equatorial dry forest that occupies territory in the regions of Piura and Tumbes. It covers an area of an altitude that goes from 656 to 5,292 ft (200 to 1,613 m), as a consequence, there is a great biological diversity. It is inhabited by species native to arid areas, the Andean mountain range, and the tropical forest, such as the red deer, Andean condor, and red-headed parrot. Among the most representative trees are the carob, the hualtaco and the zapote.

Talara Province

Punta Balcones

0.6 miles (1 km) south of the town of Negritos, past the San Pablo fishermen’s cove

This beach has the shape of a crescent moon and offers great waves for surfing. In addition, its rocks are a habitat for sea lions.

Lobitos

11 miles (18 km) north of Talara city (30 min by car)

Due to its waves and strong winds, this beach is one of the favourites for surfers and those who practice windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Cabo Blanco

2 miles (3 km) north of the El Alto district (5 min by car) / 95 miles (153) km north of the city of Piura (2 h 15 min by car)

This beach, with waters rich in fish, is very popular with those who practice deep-sea and underwater fishing, as well as surfing. Some of the most abundant species are the marlin and the golden swordfish.

obtained by burning mango leaves.

Cataratas de Caracucho

7 miles (12 km) north of Morropón (15 min by car to the native community of Caracucho, then walk for 1 h 30 min)

This area is home to three crystal clear waterfalls and presents a comfortable temperature, which allows visitors to bathe at any time of the year.

Ayabaca Province

Santuario del Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca

Ayabaca town center. Mon-Sun, 6:00-12:00 and 14:00-21:00.

This sanctuary is one of the most devoted places in northern Peru, and this 17th-century temple is where the image of the Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca is venerated. On its façade, there are 13 arches representing Jesus and his twelve apostles. Inside, gold leaf altarpieces and canvases from the Quito school adorn its walls.

Cerro Yantuma

1.2 miles (2 km) north of the town of Ayabaca (5 min by car)

The summit of this hill, at 9,304 ft (2,836 m), offers an impressive view of the landscape which can only be surpassed in beauty during the thermal inversion phenomenon, which forms a blanket of clouds that covers everything except the highest peaks.

Bosque de Cuyas

3 miles (5 km) northwest of the town of Ayabaca, native community of Cuyas-Cuchayo (10 min by car)

The Cuyas cloud forest rise to an altitude of 9,514 ft (2,900 m). Its varied fauna includes more than 100 species of birds (bearded guans, Stygian owls, sword-billed hummingbirds, among others). A hike amidst its cloud-laden landscapes leads to beautiful waterfalls. The best time to visit is between May and December.

Complejo arqueológico de Aypate

28 miles (45 km) south of the town of Ayabaca (2 h and 30 min by car)

This archeological complex was an Inca administrative center built in the 15th century. Some of the buildings that still stand are the Inca’s residences, the central square, the Acllahuasi (“house of the chosen ones”) and the andenes (agricultural terraces). The Pyramid of the Moon, a ceremonial center, is located 100 meters from it. The entire complex is surrounded by a misty forest where orchids and bromeliads grow.

Huancabamba Province

Canchaque

88 miles (142 km) southeast of the city of Piura (2 h and 30 min by car)

Canchaque is located in the mountains of Piura at 4,265 ft (1,300 m). Its landscapes are the perfect setting for excursions and walks. One of its most popular products is coffee, as well as beautiful fabrics.

San Miguel de El Faique

3 miles (5 km) south of Canchaque (15 min by car)

One of the best coffees in the country, known for its flavor and unmistakable aroma, is harvested in this area, which is surrounded by a typical forest of the Piura mountains.

Catarata de Citán

3 miles (5 km) south of the town of Sóndor (30 min by car)

Citán is a 25-meter waterfall located in the Curlata gorge. The best time to visit it is between March and November when the volume of water in the river is low.

Complejo turístico Los Peroles de Cascapampa

Sondorillo District (1 h 20 min northwest of Huancabamba)

The traveler who visits this touristic complex can tour a trout farm, a mini-zoo, and a natural lagoon where they can ride pedal boats. Nearby, there are natural rock formations carved by water.

Templo de los Jaguares

12 miles (19 km) north of Huancabamba, Sondorillo district (1 hr by car)

This temple is an ancient religious center built in 1200 AD, in which a stone sculpture depicting a pair of jaguars stands out. It is surrounded by the altars on which offerings were made during the rituals. When the Incas conquered the territory in the mid-15th century, they imposed the cult of the Sun and covered the temple with red clay.

Lagunas Las Huaringas

17 miles (27 km) north from Huancabamba to the Salalá township (2 h 30 min by car), then 9 miles (15 km) to the Negra lagoon (2 h 30 min on foot, or riding)

Las Huaringas is a complex of cold-water lagoons renowned for their healing properties. The main one, which gives the complex its name, is La Negra or Huaringa (“the Inca’s lagoon”), which is also a favorite of “healers”. Shimbe lagoon is the largest and the only one where you can fish. Ichu, chilhua and totora reeds grow around them.

Sechura Province

Los Manglares de San Pedro

28 miles (45 km) southwest of the city of Piura (50 min by car)

This mangrove forest covers an area of 1500 ha, of which 400 are covered with mangroves. The terrain is flat in the mangrove forest and undulating in the surroundings due to the presence of dunes. The black mangrove is abundant and it is known for being the habitat of 17 bird families.

Playa San Pedro

29 miles (47 km) southwest of the city of Piura (1 h by car)

San Pedro beach has calm, warm, and transparent water and a warm weather. Due to the proximity to San Pedro mangrove forest, there is a wide biodiversity of birds.

Iglesia San Martín de Tours

Sechura City Center, Cl. Constitución cdra. 6

Mon-Sat, 8:00-11:45 and 16:00-19:00; Sun, 8:00-12:00. Tel. (073) 377480. This late-Baroque colonial church was built in the 18th century. Its main attractions include its high towers (144 ft / 44 m), the pulpit carved in wood, the main altar made by hand with tree trunks and the balconies that were used by the distinguished families of the town to attend Mass discreetly.

Médano Blanco

6 miles (10 km) from Sechura (20 min by car)

A 984 ft (300 m) long and 66 ft (20 m) high dune located in the middle of the Sechura desert. This is a fantastic spot to practice sandboarding and get buggy rides.

Laguna Ñapique

9 miles (15 km) east of the city of Sechura (20 min by car)

Ñapique lagoon has calm waters and shallow depth, of special interest for birdwatching lovers, especially during summer, when it becomes home to migratory birds.

Estuario de Virrilá

12 miles (20 km) south of the city of Sechura (26 min by car)

Virrilá estuary is a saltwater mirror, where you can enjoy sailing in boats, sport fishing, or hiking nearby. Flamingoes and other migratory birds visit this place looking for warmth and food.

Playa Chulliyachi

4 miles (7 km) from Sechura (10 min by car)

Chulliyachi beach has warm and transparent water and is home of a wide variety of birds, including seagulls and pelicans.

Sechura Desert

34 miles (55 km) southwest of the city of Piura (1 h by car)

With more than 1,930 sq miles (5,000 km2), it is the largest desert in the country. On the coast there are huge oil deposits.

Reserva Nacional Illescas

81 miles (130 km) southwest of the city of Piura (2 h 30 min by car)

The beautiful landscapes of the Illescas National Reserve are home to a wide variety of marine and terrestrial fauna. It is an ideal place for hiking, enjoying nature, and practicing adventure sports.

Piura City Center

Catedral

Museo del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú - MUCEN Piura

Casa Museo Gran Almirante Miguel Grau

Iglesia San Sebastián

Iglesia San Francisco

Iglesia del Carmen

Museo Municipal Vicús y Sala de Oro

El Bosque ground terminal (buses to a Chulucanas, Tambogrande, San Miguel de El Faique, Canchaque and Huancabamba)

Buses to Mancora, Los Órganos, Tumbes, Chiclayo and Trujillo

Buses to Sullana, Talara, El Alto, Los Órganos and Mancora

Ride share taxis to Catacaos

Buses to Lima, Tarapoto, Cajamarca, Sechura, Loja and Guayaquil

Buses to Paita, Sullana and Talara

Gechisa ground terminal (buses to Sullana and Tarapoto)

Buses to Ayabaca

Buses to Chiclayo, Trujillo, Chimbote, and Lima

C.C. Real Plaza

Sullana

Universidad de Piura Cementerio Metropolitano

Ramón Mujica

Country

C.C Plaza del Sol

Coliseo Miguel Gerónimo Seminario

Cuartel Grau

Parque Miguel Cortés

Parque Héroes del Cenepa

Teatro Manuel Vegas Castillo

C.C. Plaza Club Grau

Sullana

Ica

Ayacucho

Apurímac

Jr. Tallanes

Jr. San Ramón

Jr . Fort unat o Ch i rich gino

Puente Cáceres

C.C. Open Plaza

Universidad Nacional de Piura

Av. Andrés Avelino Cáceres

Cementerio San Teodoro

Teatro Municipal

Jr. Junín

Jr.Huánuco SánchezCerro

Jr. Callao

Jr. Lima Malecón Francisco Eguiguren

Puente Eguiguren

Av. Luis Montero Eguiguren

Plazuela Carlos Augusto Salaverry

Plazuela

Av. Independencia

Av. Guillermo Irazola

Parque Abelardo Quiñones

Puente Sánchez Cerro

Av. Guardia Civil

Apurímac Ica

Grau

Estadio Miguel Grau - Piura

Ignacio Merino Óvalo Luis Montero

Jr. Lima Jr. Libertad

Plaza Tres Culturas Plaza de Armas

Bolognesi

Jr. Tacna

1 2 5 6 3 4

Puente San Miguel

Pje. Luis Alberto Sánchez

Av. Cayetano Heredia

Av. Ramón Castilla

Jr. Amazonas

Av. Junín

Cementerio Nuestra Señora del Carmen Puente Bolognesi

Jr. Ica

Jr. Arequipa

to Chulucanas to Tambogrande to Canchaque to San Miguel de El Faique to Huancabamba to Catacaos to Sechura to

Av. Progreso

Av. Córpac

Aeropuerto Internacional Cap. Fap. Guillermo Concha Ibérico

The information contained in this brochure has been updated in September 2023. To prepare it, PROMPERÚ has used official information sources, as well as the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (DIRCETUR) of Piura, the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI) and the Ministry of Transports

The opening hours and telephone numbers are subject to vary at each tourist attraction. Confirm the hours and telephone numbers with IPERÚ.

Published by PROMPERÚ - Peru for Exports and Tourism Promotion Agency Calle Uno Oeste 50, 14th Floor, Urb. Córpac, San Isidro, Lima, Perú Tel. +511 616-7300 www.promperu.gob.pe © PROMPERÚ. All rights reserved

Legal Deposit in Biblioteca Nacional del Perú No. 2023-10892

Printed by WORK UP E. I. R. L. (Calle Albert Einstein 165, Ate, Lima) Lima, October 2023