Peru's foremost port, Callao has long enjoyed historical and commercial importance, having been founded in 1537, originally as a port of embarkation for merchandise to be shipped to Spain. Located 14 km from downtown Lima, Callao still features venerable wooden colonial mansions lined with long and elaborately carved balconies. Visitors can take in sights such as the Plaza Gálvez and Plaza Grau squares and the Iglesia Matriz church.
At the end of Saenz Peña Avenue stands the Real Felipe fortress, a vast construction dating back to 1747, when it was built to defend the port from pirates such as Drake, who sacked the city in the sixteenth century. The Real Felipe also played an important role in Peru's war of independence. One can also visit Chucuito, a small fishermen's cove lined with Gothic and neo-Renaissance houses, as well as typical wooden homes painted in bright colors nearby.
The tour continues on through La Punta, a traditional district which forms part of Callao and which is ideal for walking and taking in the tangy sea breeze. This old quarter, once the home of Lima's aristocracy, features a superb oceanside promenade, pebble beaches and stately homes dating back to the early days of the Republic at the start of the nineteenth century, as well as others from the 1930s-50s. Out to sea lie the islands of El Camotal, San Lorenzo, El Frontón, Cavinzas and Palomino, which can be visited in tours arranged by the Callao Town Hall. Tours set out from the Plaza Grau square, near the Real Felipe.
During the tour, visitors will take in islands such as El Camotal, rich in scallops and which according to history was linked to Callao until the 1746 earthquake. The boat then skirts San Lorenzo, Peru's largest island, where religious ceremonies were performed in pre-Hispanic times. The island was later studied by Charles Darwin. To the north one can spot El Cabezo, an ideal beach for fishing, and the island of El Frontón, once a prison which housed the country's most dangerous criminals. The Cavinzas isles are a haven for sea birds, some of them migratory, and together with the Palomino isles form a set of islands which are a refuge for species such as sea lions.
Callao Islands
Tourist Attractions
Palomino, Cavinzas, San Lorenzo, and Fronton Islands
It is possible to visit these islands from boats that depart from the piers of La Punta and Callao. Visiting Hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 10 A.M.: upon reservation. 4 people minimum. Trip Duration: 4 hours.
Palomino Islands Two islands. The first one has a wide variety of animal life with the most representative being the South American sea lion. Some of these specimens weigh 300 kilograms. The second island works as a shelter for the old and sick sea lions; that is why it is known as “The Hospital”.
Cavinzas Island It is a sanctuary for many guano birds such as pelicans, guanay cormorants, red-legged cormorant, Peruvian boobies, and patillos.
San Lorenzo Island The largest and tallest island off the coast of Peru. It is 8 kilometers / 5 miles long and 2,2 kilometers / 1,3 miles wide. In ancient times, it was considered a feminine divinity by the natives of the zone who called it Shina and identified it with beauty and fertility due to the great amount of fish and seafood found off its coast. Because of that, it fulfilled the important economic function of maintaining the early populations that settled in Callao.
The archaeologist, Max Uhle, found a temple on the southern side of the island used for moon worship and a cemetery with over three thousand tombs containing utensils, knitted articles, and objects of gold and silver.
It is also known as the “Mysterious Island” because of the fascinating tales about pirates, hidden treasures, and historic remains that are spun about it. The bodies of the Dutch pirate, Jacobo L´Hemite, and those of other nineteenth century characters lie there. Eight cemeteries, where the corpses of Chilean soldiers who died during the War of the Pacific (Peru-Chile, 1879) lie, are also to be found there.
El Fronton Island: Also called “Island of the Dead” since it was a political prison during the Colonial and early Republican times. Among the prisoners there was Viceroy Blasco Nuñez de Vela, deposed in 1544. Later, it became a penitentiary for common criminals.
Callao continental
Districts: Carmen de la Legua, La Perla, Bellavista, La Punta, and Ventanilla
Fortaleza del Real Felipe (Real Felipe Fortress) Independencia Square (beginning of Avenida Saenz Peña). Telephone: (01) 429-0532. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Built in 1747 following the design of the Frenchman Luis Godin, it was one of the most important fortresses in South America and played a significant role during the Colony, protecting the city from the attacks of pirates and corsairs. Later, in 1866, during the battle of May 2nd, it turned into the country’s main line of defense during the war against Spain. Today, it is the Peruvian Army Museum and exhibits objects, uniforms, and weapons of the Peruvian Army.
Julio Elías Murguía Naval Museum Avenida Miguel Monteverde Win 123. Telephone: (01) 429-7278Ext. 6794. Visiting hours: Tue. -Sun.9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. It possesses an important collection of paintings, photographs, jewelry, navigation instruments, and weapons from Peruvian maritime history. Likewise, ceramic, knitting, and other pieces from the Nasca, Vicus, and Chimu cultures can be seen.
Callao Main Church or Cathedral of Callao Jiron Constitucionblock 2, Plaza Grau This church is one of the oldest in the city. It was built in 1833 by Don Antonio Dañino, a citizen and successful businessman of Callao, and was remodeled in 1876. At first, it was given the name of the Saint Simon and Saint Judas Church of Callao since it was said that the remains of these saints were kept there. After the earthquake of 1966, another remodeling was done because of the damage sustained.
The current church is of neoclassical style, built following Greco-Roman patterns. It has just one nave, numerous columns and arches, and a small dome over the main altar. Its facade has two vaulted niches from where the images of Saint Judas Thaddeus and Saint Simon the Zealot, patron saints of ports, watch over the bay of Callao.
Francisco Bolognesi Plaza (Francisco Bolognesi Square) Avenida Saenz Peña, block 5 It is considered the Main Square of Callao since the most important civic ceremonies take place there. It has an ornamental fountain and a statue representing Francisco Bolognesi, hero of the Battle of Arica.
Jose Galvez Plaza (Jose Galvez Square) Close by Avenida Sáenz Peña, block 2 In the center, there is a monument in honor of Colonel Jose Galvez Egusquiza, hero of the naval battle of May 2nd, 1866 (Battle of Dos de Mayo), who died defending Callao at the tower of La Merced. The square is located in the historic downtown and is surrounded by houses that have been declared historical monuments by the National Cultural Institute (INC). Many of these houses have Neoclassical and Republican balconies with an English influence.
Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) Avenida Saenz Peña, block 1 It is a large square with well-maintained gardens, located across from the entrance of the Royal Phillip Fortress. There, you can’t help but see the big, bronze fountain with mythological figures and alegorical characters of thetrade business, presented on July 28th, 1866 by the British Steam Navigation Company. There is also a monument to General Bartolome Saloom, Venezuelan hero who was in charge of the siege of the Main Square of Callao and obtained its surrender on January 23rd, 1826.
Plaza Torre La Merced (Torre La Merced Square) Calle Medina (Next to Club de Regatas de la Punta). It is a replica of the original Torre La Merced where Colonel Jose Galvez Egusquiza sacrificed his life. Here in 1866, the people installed a platform, parapets, and five 32 meter / 105 feet canyons and, under the orders then Secretary of War, Jose Galvez, assumed its defense against the Spanish. Submarine Abtao Navy Museum Located in the Marina Yatch Club. Av. Miguel Monteverde Win, Callao Cercado. Visiting Hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. This museum allows you to visit six compartments of the submarine: the torpedo room, the prow battery, the command center, aft battery, and the machine and engine rooms. Furthermore, there is a recreation of the kind of life a navy officer had when staying inside for thirty or forty days.
Los Humedates de Ventanilla (The Wetlands of Ventanilla) With an area of 366 hectares, this place is home to a great variety of birds such as gray, Franklin, striped, and Peruvian gulls, white and blue herons, cinnamon teal and yellow ducks, the storm-petrels, the gallinules, the storks, the groove-billed anis, etc. It takes about four and a half hours to walk around the wetlands.
El Paraiso Archeological Complex 4 km / 2 miles from Ventanilla Beach. Visiting Hours: upon reservation This site is also known as the Chuquitanta Palace since it is situated near the lake of the same name. Found there are eight ceremonial palaces. The oldest monument is the Pampa los Perros Huaca (2000 B.C. – 1500 B.C.), located south of Ventanilla in an area furrowed by deep gorges that were once used for farming. The largest monument is found on the other side of the Chillon River. At the height of its influence, the area reached 70 hectares.
Oquendo Archeological Complex 9 km / 6 miles from downtown Callao, taking Avenida Nestor Gambeta. Visiting hours: upon reservation It is formed by the Oquendo Palace, the Great Walls, and the corridors of the Chillon River as well as other structures located in the area of the old Oquendo Ranch. The different vestiges found in the area tell us that it was used during several periods of pre-Hispanic history.
Some of the evidence include instruments found near the top of Oquendo Hill that might belong to the stone period (7000 B.C. – 8000 B.C.), the great Walls, a network of pathways built during the Late Intermediate Period (1270 A.D. – 1470 A.D.), the Oquenda Palace, which was an Inca building that for some researchers might have been an administrative chamber, and for others, a beach house for the Inca.
Climate Its climate is humid and foggy most of the year, and warm and sunny during summer time (January, February, and March). It has an average annual temperature of 19ºC (66ºF). In summer, it reaches an average temperature of 30ºC (86ºF), and during winter, it drops to 14ºC (57ºF).
Access Routes By land:There is public transportation from several points of the city of Lima to the different districts of Callao andviceversa.
By air: The Jorge Chavez International Airport is located in the Callao department.
By sea:The port of Callao is the main harbor of the country.
Directory
Health Centers Red Cross – Callao. Telephone: (01) 423-7779 Daniel A. Carrion Hospital. Telephone: (01) 429-6062
Local Police
La Punta Police Station. Av. Brasil, La Punta Carmen de la Legua Reynoso Police Station: Avenida 1º de Mayo 1108, Carmen de la Legua Reynoso Telephone: (01) 562-1044
Callao Police Station: Av. Fernandini y Supe, Urb. Santa Marina Norte (Across from City Hall of Callao) Telephone: (01) 453-5458
Playa Rimac Police Station: Jr. Miguel Grau, 2 block, Callao Telephone: (01) 473-1301
Ramon Castilla Police Station: Jiron Talñará, Urb. Ramon Castilla, Callao Telephone: (01) 453-4801
Sarita Colonia Police Station: Kilometer 2.5 of Avenida Gambetta, passing Callao Naval Base Telephone: (01) 453-4801 Links NATIONAL TOURISM CHAMBER www.canaturperu.org
Peru's foremost port, Callao has long enjoyed historical and commercial importance, having been founded in 1537, originally as a port of embarkation for merchandise to be shipped to Spain. Located 14 km from downtown Lima, Callao still features venerable wooden colonial mansions lined with long and elaborately carved balconies. Visitors can take in sights such as the Plaza Gálvez and Plaza Grau squares and the Iglesia Matriz church.