Attractions Nearby Chimbote, Day Trips and Excursions

(Chimbote, Ancash, Peru)

From the city of Chimbote, many Peruvian and coastal attractions are within easy reach, including those of Tortugas. Frequent buses ply the Pan-American Highway, linking Chimbote with attractions such as Barranca, Callao and Lima to the south, and both Trujillo and Chiclayo in the opposite direction.

Always worthy of an excursion is Chiclayo, which is directly north-west of Chimbote and was founded by Spanish missionaries during the 16th century, and features many historic attractions to match its age. Enjoying a very important setting, Chiclayo has become a leading commercial hub for trade routes heading around the coast, to the highlands and even into the Amazon jungle.

Callao

The busy city of Callao is actually Peru's premier port city and considered by many to be a suburb of neighbouring Lima. Callao is situated to the west of Lima and south of Chimbote, and partly stands on a prominent peninsula. The main attractions in Callao include the Castillo de Real Felipe - a coastal fortress next to the harbour, a series of islands, and the beaches of La Punta, where tourists regularly come to swim and water ski.

Barranca

Barranca lies directly to the south, where it is sandwiched part way between both Chimbote and Lima. There are a number of good reasons to pay a visit to Barranca and day trips are always very popular with tourists in the area. Attractions to look out for in Barranca include the ancient Temple of Paramonga, which boasts extraordinary views of the verdant valley below. Head inland just over 20 km / 12 miles and you will soon find the often overlooked ruins of Caral, which are thought to be part of South America's most historic civilisation, dating back some 5,000 years.

Chiclayo

Chiclayo contains many exceptional museums and similar attractions, and today gains much of its popularity due to its proximity to the Moche archaeological site of Sipan and its royal tombs, which were discovered as recently as the late 1980s. In Chiclayo itself, the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum (Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan) is an absolute must.

Huaraz

The town of Huaraz can be found to the south-east of Chimbote and is well known for its exceptional adventure sports and related attractions. Mountain trekking, rock climbing and mountain biking are all readily available around the Huaraz area, although visitors are strongly advised to take the necessary time to properly acclimatise to the high altitude.

Each Easter, Holy Week (Semana Santa) sees tourists flock to Huaraz to join in the seasonal festivities and outdoor water fights.

Lima

The crowded and chaotic city of Lima is Peru's capital city and is an enormous metropolis, being called home by more than eight million people. Lima is sited to the south of Chimbote, where it is actually the second-biggest desert city on the planet. The metropolis of Lima does have much to offer in the way of tourist attractions, although these are spread around its many different neighbourhoods. The beaches around the Barranco and Coste Verde areas of the city lend themselves to sunbathing and surfing, while visitors sometimes choose to paraglide from the top of the cliffs in the Miraflores district. Those visiting Lima should search out a good restaurant and sample the fresh seafood, which is legendary in this part of Peru.

Tortugas

The beach resort of Tortugas may be small, but it certainly has plenty of tourist appeal. Located to the south of Chimbote and north-west of Casma, Tortugas is home to a very appealing pebbly beach, with especially clear water. The main attractions in Tortugas tend to be based around its beachfront and include swimming in the bay and various water sports. Weekend excursions here are becoming increasingly popular, due to its tranquil situation and calm bay.

Trujillo

A very historic city with areas that appear much as they did several centuries ago, Trujillo is brimming with flamboyant architecture and magnificent churches. Established almost 500 years ago, Trujillo was the very first city in Peru to declare its independence from Spain, and stands to the north of Chimbote. The attractions of Trujillo tend to be based around its central Plaza de Armas and come in the form of elegant colonial mansions, which often open their doors to members of the public and are well worth exploring if you have the time, often playing host to local exhibitions of art.