This coastal military garrison (taking pictures strictly circumscribed) is the northernmost town in Peru, a common transition point for travelers coming to – or heading from – Ecuador. Here is where tourists can get on busses such as CIFA and Ormeño and head further south to Trujillo, Huaraz, and Lima. It is not uninteresting as a destination point itself, a place from which three different ecosystems can be accessed: the Natural Sanctuary Los Manglares de Tumbes, the National Park Cerro de Amotape, and the tropical wood National Forest of Tumbes.
The very pleasant beaches, particularly Caleta la Cruz (16 kilometers south), and Zorritos (27 kilometers south), are not only great swims, but are also home to 200 species of exotic birds, including species listed as endangered. Local fisherman will also rent out their boats.
In the city itself, near its Plaza de Armas, a library hosts some ancient pottery discovered on the site. In the same area are some historical 19th century homes.