In the district of Lobitos, coastal features and the built heritage of the former oil camp offer distinct points of interest. The length of the beaches, the walkway at La Punta and the tides at Piscinas provide three different reference points.

Beaches: Length, Walkway and Tides

Playa La Punta is 1.8 kilometers long; Playa Piscinas measures about 500 meters. In direct comparison, La Punta is around three and a half times as long as Piscinas. These figures give an indication of the size of the two stretches of beach, although the length of Piscinas remains an estimate.

A 17-meter-long walkway leads from the municipal parking lot at Playa La Punta to the beach. If you are planning to visit La Punta, you can take this short stretch between the parking lot and the beach into account. Playa Piscinas has a different planning consideration: the natural stone pool fills only at high tide, mainly between December and March. Check the tides when planning a visit rather than relying on the month alone. In the early 20th century, the oil company “Lobitos Oilfields Limited” created the natural stone pool; its origins also connect the coast with the history of oil production.

The beach features answer different questions: the length indicates the extent, the walkway describes the stretch from the parking lot to Playa La Punta, and at Piscinas, the tide determines when the stone pool fills. You can therefore choose a beach based on whether the length of the beach, the walk from the parking lot or the tides matter most for your visit.

Buildings and Cultural Heritage

The administrative building of the former oil camp is located by the sea. From its galleries, you can see the old pier and the drilling sites in the sea. The building is a monument of Peru’s national cultural heritage; it was declared a monument in 2008. Its location and the views described connect the building with the old pier and the drilling sites off the coast.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) in the former oil camp in the district of Lobitos is also a monument of Peru’s national cultural heritage. It was placed under heritage protection in 2008 and is one of the few churches in Peru built entirely of wood. Its compact layout comprises a nave, choir, presbytery and altar. It also features a Neogothic style, which is uncommon in Peru. These terms describe different aspects of the architecture: nave, choir, presbytery and altar name parts of the layout, while “Neogothic” refers to the style. For those interested in religious architecture, the material, interior layout and formal language are three specific aspects of this church.

The archaeological site of Las Capullanas is part of the district’s archaeological history and Peru’s national cultural heritage. Regional interest has also been declared in the tourist development of Playa Las Capullanas. These classifications are distinct: the archaeological site and the buildings are part of the national cultural heritage; in the case of Playa Las Capullanas, the declaration concerns tourism development planning.

Discover more destinations: El Alto, Sechura, Sullana, Canchaque District, Ñuro, Paita District, Talara.

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