Lost city of Cerro Azul

When the Incas arrived in the Cañete valley they found it fiercely defended by the Guarco (Huarco) people who lived there. It took future emperor Túpac Yupanqui years to subdue them, even going as far as to temporarily recreate the imperial capital of Cusco nearby as a base to attack from, moving the empire’s army there in the process. There were Huarco fortresses dotted across the fertile valley, and these fiercely defensive people had 20,000 warriors at their disposal, reading to die for their freedom – but life for the Huarco wasn’t always like this.

April 27, 2009 | Archaeology, Lima City Guide

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Lima – Weekend Getaways

So, what is the tourist, with more time in Lima then they’d prefer and no interest in a city experience, to do?

The truth is, Peru is such a magical place that you do not need to go too far outside the city of Lima to find attractions that rival those elsewhere in the country. From desert oases, pretty Andean villages and ancient pyramids to hiking trails, white water rafting and horseback riding – here’s the run down of nearby weekend getaways.

January 26, 2009 | Lima City Guide, Nature

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Conquest of the Huarco of the Cañete Valley

Six centuries have now passed since the young Túpac Yupanqui, chief commander of the victorious army of his father the grand Inca Pachacútec, set eyes on this extensive green valley for the first time from the dry desert hills above, the valley that today is called Cañete. Strategically allied with the Chincha further south and the local rulers of what is now a town called Asia further north, perhaps the young Inca thought the conquest of the prosperous Guarco (Huarco) people would be simple.

September 3, 2008 | Archaeology, History

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Fishing on the Peruvian coast

I’ve seen coastal scenes in the UK, in France and in Chile, all of which, although mostly the same, I feel give some insight into the country in which they are located.
I am familiar with seeing fishing boats coming ashore with their catch, birds flocking around harbours looking for dropped fish and all the sites you would expect on the coast. I’ve seen these scenes every year in my life and was interested to see the Peruvian version – and I did on my recent trip to the beach.

December 14, 2006 | Lima Region Guide

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Cerro Azul – Lima’s Beaches

South of the city of Lima are dozens of beaches on an irregular desert coastline that are visited by thousands of Limeños in the summer months. The first set of beaches outside of the city are in the Lurín valley and continue down to the famous beaches at Asia and then towards the edge of the Lima region. Bays, sandy beaches, peninsulas, cliffs, and rocks, the coast spans hundreds of kilometres and has it all.

December 10, 2006 | Lima City Guide

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