Cañete is one of the nine provinces of the Lima region. It is famous for its history, fertile agricultural lands, and popular tourist attractions, especially among locals. It is made up of sixteen districts, including Asia, Cerro Azul, Mala, and San Vicente de Cañete. The latter is the provincial capital. Its most famous tourist attractions are the beaches of Cerro Azul, the shopping centers of Asia, and Lunahuaná.
Cañete Province
Cañete, south of Lima, is one of the provinces that make up the department of Lima on the central coast of Peru.
Its name is of colonial origin and refers to the sugarcane fields that were cultivated there, although it is also said to have been the name of the land of origin of Viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, which was named after him.
It has an important history dating back to the pre-Inca era with the farmers of the Chilca Valley 7,000 years ago. The people of this fertile valley stood firm against the Incas but were ultimately dominated by the armies of Pachacutec and Túpac Yupanqui.
The province of Cañete boasts fertile lands where crops such as cotton, grapes, and mandarin oranges can be grown. Its cuisine is renowned for dishes such as carapulcra with dry soup, also known as "Mancha pecho."
It is also known for being an enclave of Afro-Peruvian culture. The town of San Luis de Cañete was even named a "Living Repository of Afro-Peruvian Collective Memory" by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.
The province of Cañete is made up of sixteen districts: San Vicente, Asia, Calango, Cerro Azul, Coayllo, Chilca, Imperial, Lunahuaná, Mala, Nuevo Imperial, Pacarán, Quilmaná, San Antonio, San Luis, Santa Cruz de Flores, and Zúñiga.
San Vicente de Cañete is the provincial capital. This area is frequently visited by tourists (especially from the city of Lima). Its main tourist attraction is Lunahuaná.
Other tourist attractions in the province of Cañete include the Cerro Azul spa, Azpitia (a place where adventure sports are practiced), the Incahuasi archaeological site, its pisco and wine cellars (especially in San Vicente), and more.
Where is it located?
The province of Cañete is located south of the department of Lima on the central coast of Peru. Its capital, San Vicente de Cañete, is located at 40 meters above sea level.
The province borders the city of Lima and the province of Huarochirí to the north, the province of Yauyos to the east, the province of Chincha to the south, and finally, the Pacific beaches to the west.
How to get there?
To get to Cañete from Lima, we recommend following this route:
From any point in the city, take a taxi or public transportation to a point on the Pan-American Highway (Atocongo Bridge or Benavides Bridge, for example).
Take public transportation buses that will take you through the province of Cañete, such as Cerro Azul, Asia, or San Vicente. The trip takes approximately two hours. The price varies between 10 and 20 soles per person.
Cañete and the Incas
The history of Cañete dates back to the farmers who worked its fertile lands approximately seven thousand years ago.
In the pre-Inca era, ethnic groups from the Chavín (1200 BC–400 BC) and Tiahuanaco (1500 BC–1100 AD) cultures settled there.
During the Inca period, several kingdoms existed on the central coast. These formed the so-called "Huarco Confederation" to confront the Inca army led by Pachacutec and Túpac Yupanqui at the end of the 15th century.
After four years of battles, the Incas managed to annex these kingdoms to the Tahuantinsuyu empire. The Huarco kingdoms depended on Cusco, the Inca capital. These peoples would support the Spanish army, which defeated the Incas in the 16th century.
During the viceregal era (August 30, 1556), the "Villa de Santa María" was founded in the Cañete Valley by Viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza.
During the Republican era, Cañete witnessed historic events such as the War of the Pacific and the Cañete massacre in 1881 (Lunahuaná was occupied by the Chilean army).
In the 1990s, modernization works were carried out in Asia, Mala, and Cerro Azul. Of particular note is the Asia shopping center, one of Lima's most visited, especially during the summer (January, February, and March).
Today, the province of Cañete is one of the most important and tourist-oriented in the Lima region.
Cañete Tourist Attractions
Lunahuaná – Lunahuaná, in the district of the same name, is famous for its vineyards, fruit, and adventure sports. It has a good selection of restaurants, hotels, and cafes. Rafting on the Cañete River is the main tourist activity. It is visited mostly by tourists from Lima.
Cerro Azul – The Cerro Azul beach resort is famous for its beautiful landscapes and soft sand, where many tourists enjoy camping. This is one of the districts of Cañete. It is known for the "Faithful Port" as well as the beaches of Puerto Viejo and Cerro Azul.
Azpitia – The town of Azpitia, in the district of Santa Cruz de Flores, is famous for its various adventure sports, especially on the Mala River: rafting, horseback riding, ATV tours, and trekking. It offers basic tourist services such as hotels and restaurants. Incahuasi – The Incahuasi archaeological site in Lunahuaná was built during the Inca imperial period (under the orders of Pachacutec). It was an administrative center that included structures such as ushnus, colcas, palaces, colcas, and more. It's a great option if you're visiting Lunahuaná.
Climate
The climate in the province of Cañete varies by location. However, because it's located on the central Pacific coast, its climate is generally desert-like depending on the season.
The average annual temperature is 24°C (75°F) high (December to March) and 16°C (60°F) low (in winter, April to November).
Rainfall is not intense (annual average of 11.4 mm). The rainiest season is winter (April to November).
More things you should know about Cañete
The province of Cañete covers an area of approximately 4,577.16 square kilometers. Its estimated population in 2023 is 263,879.
The province has a history influenced by Afro-Peruvian people in Peru. The Afro-Peruvian folklore festival, the "Festival de Arte Negro," was held in 1971. Afro-Peruvian citizens are generally present in districts such as Bujama Baja, Arona, and San Vicente de Cañete.
Due to its grape production, the province of Cañete has restaurants and shops offering high-quality wines. The vineyards are highly visited by tourists. Also noteworthy are its restaurants, where you can enjoy exquisite dishes such as ceviche, shrimp, duck with rice, tamales, pachamanca, and, of course, the acclaimed carapulcra with sopa seca.
