Roaming South America

Lambayeque, Perú

March 13, 2024

Lambayeque is located in the northwest coast of Perú and was founded in 1553 with the name of San Pedro de Lambayeque. Lambayeque has a population of about 61,000. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors this area had been populated by various indigenous groups. But then Francisco Pizarro arrived and set up a camp which eventually became an important mission which he entrusted to a compatriate, Juan de Barbarán, in 1536. The town slowly grew into an important stopover on the route to Lima. In 1619, there was an earthquake that devistated the town of Trujillo and most of the elite class moved to Lambayete. Then in 1720, the town of Saña was flooded and pretty much the entire population relocated to Lambayete. By the late 1900s, the area was famous for its sugar cane production.

Sullana, Perú

March 11, 2024

Sullana (pronounce the ll like a Y in English), is located in the northwest part of Perú was founded in July 1783. The entire metropolitan area of Sullana has about 200,000 people. Historianssay that this valley, the Chira Valley, used to be home to several indigenous groups as well as the Incas, that was until the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 1500s.

San Ignacio, Perú

August 28, 2023

San Ignacio, Perú, has a population of about 35,000 and is in the northcentral Andes Mountains, fairly high at more than 4300 feet elevation.

San Ignacio was founded in 1557, but there is nothing truly historical old left in the town. Many houses and buildings date back to the 1800s, but they're nothing special. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that it was recognized with legal status as a district. It was in 1944 that the town was finally recognized as an official city. Unlike the previous few towns I visited, San Ignacio has very few tour agencies if I remember correctly, I saw one while out exploring the town. But, there are many, many buyers of coffee, cacao, and corn. The coffee-growing industry is very big here in these mountains. I also saw several coffee exporters. The town has no supermarket of any kind.

Jaén, Perú

August 25, 2023

Jaén, population of about 86,000, is in the northcentral Andes Mountains of Perú. The River Amojú passes through the center of the city. To the east of the mountains is the Amazon Basin.

Bagua Grande, Perú

August 23, 2023

Bagua Grande, population of about 43,000, is in the northcentral Andes Mountains of Perú. It is alongside the Utcubamba River in the Utcubamba Valley. To the east of the mountains is the Amazon Basin.