PIURA CITY

Altitude: Sea level.

San Miguel de Piura was founded in 1532 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro as the first Spanish city in Peru. Near Tumbes lies Mancora, beach resort with pure white sand and a quiet sea. Further south is Cabo Blanco, an ideal place for surfing as it boasts some of the best waves in the Pacific Ocean.

Cabo Blanco is also famous for its world records in deep-sea fishing. Colan is the beach resort for the city of Piura, a resort where the homes stand on stilts by the sea. Higher up in the Piura highlands lays the town of Chulucanas, which is famous for its superb pottery. The province of Huacabamba, meanwhile, is home to Las Huaringas, a chain of lakes whose waters are believed to have medicinal properties.

This area is the capital of folk healing and traditional medicine.