Paita

Iglesia San Lucas, Colán. Photo by Lorraine Caputo

By Lorraine Caputo

Since at least 1700 BC, the coasts West of Piura have been premier fishing grounds. The Tallán lived here, and later the Chimú. On March 30, 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro established San Francisco de Payta de Buena Esperanza at the main bay of the region. Payta — or Paita, as it is spelled today — derives from Quechua, meaning “just desolate desert.” It was an important Spanish port. But with time, it lost its place to Callao further south. Once more, though, Paita is booming. It is the major port for the Interoceanic Highway, a continental project to create a fluvial and road shipping route from Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.

Read more...