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La Punta is one of six districts that make up the Constitutional Province of Callao. It is located on a peninsula in the western part of the province and is almost entirely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, except on its eastern side, where it is bordered by Callao downtown. The first inhabitants of La Punta were fishermen.
Before and during the Inca era and at the beginning of Colonial times a small fishing village, called Piti-Piti, existed in La Punta. But the area didn't have a proper name at this time and was always referred to as "Punta del Callao" (the point/end of Callao). Like the whole Callao area, La Punta was also completely destroyed by the devastating earthquake and the tidal wave of 1746.
La Punta recovered quickly and already by the end of the 19th century it had developed to one of the most popular spas in the region. In 1910 La Punta was basically formed by two main streets (Jr. Medina and Jr. Sáenz Peña) and two side roads (Jr. Ucayali and a road without name). A spacious, open plaza with hotels and summer houses gave it a rustic, but elegant appearance. Even though many visitors from the Limeñan bourgeoisie came to La Punta, life was peaceful and quite.
On the 6th of October 1915 La Punta was officially established as district of the Constitutional Province of Callao.
In the 1930s and 1940s many Italian immigrants settled in La Punta. Their legacy can still be seen in the district. La Punta is mostly an upper middle class district, where Callao's most prestigious families have historically lived. Many of the district's old houses are still conserved.
Today the beautiful district attracts many visitors during the summer months. La Punta's beaches called "Cantolao", "Malecón" and "Arenillas" are popular with surfers, swimmers and sun lovers. Almost one third of La Punta is occupied by the Peruvian Naval School.
Places to visit & attractions in La Punta
Museo de la Fuerza de Submarinos
(Base Naval del Callao, La Punta, Callao)
The museum shows the captivating history of the Peruvian submarines starting in 1912 until today. You can find more info about it on our museums pages.
Boat Tour to Callao's Islands
(Piers of La Punta and Callao)
One of the highlights of a visit to Callao is a boat trip to the islands offshore. Discover the "Mysterious Island" of San Lorenzo, The Island of Death "El Frontón" and the Palomino Islands with their unique wildlife. Boats depart daily in the morning from the piers of La Punta and Callao. You need to book a tour in advance at one of the numerous travel agencies or at the tourist booth of the Municipality of Callao. Depending on the tour you choose, the trips takes around 4 hours.
