Province of Piura

Capital: City of Piura
Altitude: 30 - 2.500 m.a.s.l.
Distance: not available

The province of Piura is located in the Northwest of Peru and streches out over a varied geography from coastal desert to the high regions of the Andes.

The city of Piura, tidy and dynamic, is famous for the happy and welcoming spirit of its inhabitants. It is appreciated for its music (tondero and marinera), its exquisite food and its varied handicraft with the outstanding Chulucanas pottery. The flower decorations with ornaments from the sea and the filigree of gold and silver are another characteristic of the city.

It has beautiful beaches with clean and white sand. Ideal to practice fishing.
Its abundant petroleum resources make Piura the National Reserve of the Peru.

How to arrive
  
You can get easily to Piura by air, land or sea, even though the last one is not very common

- By land: You can get to Piura by Pan-American Highway, actually, in great conditions. From Lima you can get there by bus in approximately 15-16 hours. (1035 kilometers)

- By air: Several companies have daily flights. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Festivities
 
International Reyes Fair (January)

It is artistic commercial Peruvian- Ecuadorian fair.

Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes Festivity (September)

The festivity congregates a huge number of pilgrims that arrives to Basílica de La Merced Church after long pilgrimages.

 Jubilee Week of Piura (October)

There takes place fairs, shows, performances, and fireworks, also social and cultural events.

“Señor Cautivo” Festivity (October)

It is a very popular festivity, lots of pilgrims arrive by foot others on their knees to show their devotion, the festivity takes more or less 20 days.

Tourist Site Attractions:

It is interesting to visit:

- Square of Arms
- The Cathedral
- Church of Carmen
- Church of San Francisco
- Museum House of Almirante Miguel Grau
- Municipal Archeological Museum of Piura
- Museum of Art

Catacaos Town
It is located at 12 kilometers from Piura. It is a town with deeply rooted customs that stands out for its crafts of hay and cotton and its gold and silver filigree. Only at 5 kilometers south of Catacaos are the archeological remains of Narihuala, a cult place or fortress of the Tallanes.

Sechura Town
It is located at 55 kilometers from Piura. A town that is important for its bay. In this zone you can see the Sechura desert.

In the archeological zone of Vicus, 55 kilometers from Piura, developed one of the oldest cultures of the Peruvian coast (fine works of jewelry and pottery with stylish lines were found there).

Samanga Stone paintings
It is located at 213 kilometers from Piura. The pictures are on blocks of stone at 2.300 m.a.s.l. The word "Samanga" means "place where the Huacas rest". In the El Tuno sector, is the stone painting called El Altar that encloses elements of the Andean duality.

Aypate Archeological Site
It is located 213 kilometers from Piura. It is located in the high zones of the region (2.916 m.a.s.l.) and dates back to the fifteenth century. It is interesting to see features of the Inca architecture in the: Central Square, Kallanca, Ushnu, Acllahuasi. Besides, there is a fortressed view-point and a ceremony well.

Sechura Desert
It is located just 55 kilometers away from Piura. It is considered the biggest desert of Peru.

In the heights of the provinces of Huancabamba, at 1.953 m.a.s.l., are the Huaringas, considered the capital of Peruvian witchcraft. It is a zone made up from a group of lagoons of mine-medicinal waters. Besides of the provinces of Paita and Talara with their beautiful spas of Colan, Mancora and Esmeralda.

San Pedro Manglares
It is located at 50 kilometers from Piura. This zone comprises 1.500 hectares, most of which are covered by black mangroves. The place is also known as Caleta or San Pedro Beach.

Punta Numura Beach or Shode,
It is located at 75 kilometers from Sechura. It is characterized by its ample bays and rocky places of white granite hanging down from the dunes. In its clean, blue waters, dolphines, turtles and sea birds live. Due to the strong winds, it is ideal for practicing surfing.

Colan Beach
It is located 65 kilometers from Piura. It is an extense beach with a series of forelands: Punta Chuy, Punta Herada and Punta Negra. The spa is characterized for its old houses of wood and balconies of stone.

Las Huaringas Lagoons
The lagoons are known for their medicinal properties. It is located at 255 kilometers from Piura. There are 14 famous lagoons located at an altitude of 3.900 m.a.s.l., approximately.

Among the most important lagoons are: The Negra or Huaringa (Lagoon of the Inca). Lagoon Shimbe or Siviricuche (Turquesa Lake). Lagoon Las Palanganas or Orgullosas.

National Park Amotape Mountains
There are located at 90 kilometers from Sullana. It has a great biological diversity. The wild fauna is very rich in species that are representative of the Tropical Forest. It has a territorial expanse of 91.300 hectares.

The Park Amotape Mountains is considered part of the Northeast Reservation of Biosphere.
Tourist Assistance

Plaza de Armas
Jr. Ayacucho N° 377.
Phone: 073-320249

Industry and Tourism General Direction

Av. Fortunato Chirichigno, San Eduardo, El Chipre, Piura.
Phone/fax: (074) 33-4328

PROMPERU

Tourist Information Service
Phone/fax: (511)224-9355.

PROMPERU / INDECOPI

Tourist Protection Service
Phone/fax: (511) 574-8000.