La Costa

This is the coastal region of Peru, following the country's Pacific coast from north to south and thus forming a long narrow region between the ocean and the mountain ranges of the Andes. Although some places are fertile, most of La Costa is dry and sometimes extremely arid. There are desert regions in the south, near the Chilean border, which are even drier than the Sahara. In some places it never rains and absolutely nothing will grow. The landscapes can be very spectacular, with immense sand dunes and stone-deserts.

The coastal highway near Lima

There is a lot of rain in the Amazon basin, but the rain rarely reaches La Costa because of the barrier of the Andes mountains. Because many small rivers flow from the Andes into the coastal region, there are also fertile and green places. For instance Lima, in fact in the middle of the desert, doesn't seem to be a desert city at all, and there is no lack of fresh water.

"The Cathedral" in the Paracas National Park.
Image © Alex Seeley

South of Lima is Lunahuana, where the Cañete River is a popular place for wild-water canoeing. Further south along the coast are the cities Pisco and Ica. Very mysterious are the Nazca lines. An interesting place for wildlife is the Paracas National Park.

The Sechura Desert in the North

Around Trujillo and Piura in the North are some beautiful beaches. It is also a popular place for windsurfing. The ocean water is clean and crystal-clear at most places. Also in the north are the cities Chiclayo and Tumbes.

Pictures of La Costa

The Pacific Coast in Chorrillos, city of Lima