The Andes mountain range is parallel to the coastline, which prevents the humid currents of the Amazonian areas from reaching the Pacific. This makes the Peruvian coast conform, practically in its entirety, to a great desert. However, thanks to the ancestral techniques for the use of water and land, along the coast are large cities, fed by the fertile valleys that come from the Andes. The easy access to these crops and fishing has allowed to generate a spectacular cuisine, based on the quality of the raw material.

In this area a multitude of cultures settled, between which the Mochica and Chimú stand out

Main tourist destinations Northern Coast

Francisco Pizarro settled the city of Lima on 18 January 1535, to be the main city of the new lands he was discovering. But before Pizarro arrive on the Rìmac River shores, many cultures had been living in the area centurys before.  Nowadays you can find preinca Huacas (mood bricks pyramids) spread all over the city districts.

Lima, the City of Kings, lived a great expansion under Spanish colonization, becoming one of the most important Port in the American Continent. The Port an the Fortress of Callao protected and provided the city and it was also the place were the main tresaures from Andes and Jungle were sent to Europe.

From 1821 is the Capital of the Peruvian Republic, and it never stop expanding. During years, this city has been receiving thousand of people from inner Peru. This cultural mix makes Lima a great window to all the regions of this great country. There is allways something you can do or see in Lima: you can visit the historic dowtown, have a walk along the seaside in the most modern districts or enjoy the sunset in a relaxing terrace.

• Chan Chan: known as the city of mud, it covers an area of ​​approximately twenty square kilometers. Maximum urban exponent of the Chimú culture, its wide avenues and its great palaces are conserved. Located just five kilometers from the city of Trujillo
• Urban Huacas: the area occupied by the current city of Trujillo was a major focus of development since antiquity, so it is possible to visit archaeological remains in the heart of the modern city.
• Huanchaco Beach: it is a small spa where you can appreciate the traditional fishing work using the traditional reed horses.
• Huacas de la Luna and del Sol archaeological complex: the huaca de la Luna is the largest and best preserved vestige of Mochica culture in the Moche river valley.
• Lady of Cao (Archaeological Complex “El Brujo”): in this archaeological complex were found the mummified remains of a Mochica ruler. In addition to the value of the treasure found in its funeral trousseau, this finding has served to redefine the scope of the female role in pre-Inca cultures.

• Lord of Sipán (Huaca Rajada): in this archaeological complex located on the outskirts of the town of Sipán, one of the most important finds in American archeology was made: the tombs of several generations of Mochica rulers and their priests.
• Museum of the Royal Tombs: museum site of the discovery of the Lord of Sipán. You can see all the extracted treasure, besides the explanation of the archaeological procedure.

Main tourist destinations Southern Coast

• Huacachina Oasis: next to the city of Ica, we can find this formed Oasis. At present it is a recreational complex where you can perform different adventure activities or walk the dunes in the vicinity of the oasis. Hotels and clubs make up the leisure offer of this place.
• Wineries: the region produces various wines derived from local grapes, especially the “Pisco”, a distillate of the grape, which uses local traditional techniques.

• Nazca Lines: are a set of geoglyphs of large dimensions, which represent from large straight lines to representation of animals. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1994, it is only possible to appreciate them in their entirety from a plane.

• Ballesta Islands: these islands are 30 minutes from the coast of Paracas, and represent an animal conservation sanctuary. In them you can observe a great variety of marine fauna: from guano birds to sea lions and penguins.