Peru is on the western side of South America and it has a 2,400 km long coast on the Pacific Ocean! The northern coastline of the country is attracting an increasing numbers of surfers and even the New York Times and Transworld Surf magazine have featured articles about surfing in Peru! This region also happens to contain some of the world's biggest and easily accessible archaeological ruins, all close to the Pan American Highway.

Assuming that you start from Lima, I will comment about the coast going northwards and then, in a future hub, I will cover the beaches around the capital itself and the southern coast.

The northern region is best known for the remnants of earlier civilizations. One of Americas' oldest citadel, the urban settlement of Caral is located in the Supe Valley, about sixty miles north of Lima. The site, dates back to 2500 BC and contains eight tomb pyramids. For pictures and information, please read my: http://hubpages.com/hub/Caral-oldest-city-of-the-Americas-2-600-BC

Further up the coast, the Casma Valley holds many archaeological treasures. Visitors to the Sechin Alto complex may now view what remains of the city's temples, tombs and plaza, some of which date back to 3500 BC. At nearby Chanquillo, the hilltop set of thirteen towers is thought to be the world's oldest solar observatory.

Three of the north’s major cities, Chimbote, Trujillo and Chiclayo are in this area and they are linked to Lima, the capital, by the Pan-American Highway that runs along the coast. All three cities are useful basis for exploring the region's most important archaeological sites, as well as its mountains and beaches.

East of this area are some spectacular trails of the Cordillera Blanca and the Huascarán National Park. There is also mountain climbing and trekking, and the Callejón de Huaylas, which boasts some of the most beautiful peaks in South America. Near Huaraz, in the Conchucos Valley lies Chavin de Huantar, a fortress temple with carved heads and other stonework, belonging to the Chavin culture, one of Peru's earliest civilizations. The complex, dating back to 1200 to 800 BC, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still being excavated.

After Chimbote, a large fishing port comes Trujillo, Peru’s most important northern city. It has been described as charming, simple, formal and delicate and is noted for its colourful colonial architecture. The area has some of the country’s greatest archaeological sites, like Chan Chan, a spectacular eight square mile adobe city of the Chimú civilization, which has been named Unesco World Heritage Site.

Among the Trujillo area beaches, Huanchaco is an outgoing and friendly fishing village. It is unique because the local fishermen's boats are handmade rafts constructed of totora reeds, called caballitos (little horses) and they are ridden surfboard-style. The design of these boats has changed little from the craft used by pre-Inca fishing tribes.

Chiclayo, Peru's fourth largest city, is next and it is an agricultural centre known for its excellent cuisine. The Royal Tombs of Sipan, encased in pyramids, were discovered east of the city in the Lambayeque Valley. These Moche tombs, some in good condition, while others are decayed, are being excavated and restored. This hub: http://hubpages.com/hub/Perus-King-Kong-sweet talks about the area, as well as the museum. You might also want to visit the nearby village of Monsefu, known for its music and crafts market.

Some of Peru's most popular surfing destinations are found in the north, in part, because unlike the central and southern coast, the northernmost departments do not become covered in the garua mists. The choice of many advanced surfers is Puerto Chicama, fifty miles north of Trujillo, where the longest wave in the world is supposed to be found, or Bayovar, on theIllescas Peninsula, half-way between the cities of Piura and Chiclayo. Surfing enthusiasts who are looking for more than waves may prefer the white sand beach of Mancora, or the less crowded Los Organos, a few miles south.

For sunbathers, the pristine sands and turquoise waters of Punta Sal, fifteen miles north ofMancora, can't be surpassed. Further down the coast, the town of Colan offers rental beach houses on stilts.

The region's smaller cities include the port of Piura, where 70% of Peru's oil is produced, and collectors of ceramics may also wish to stop off in the village of Chulucanas, near Piura, to see pottery being made using ancient techniques.

Tumbes is a city near the Ecuador border, where the conquistadors first landed. Its protected ecosystems include Los Manglares de Tumbes, (subtropical coastal mangroves with a wide variety of seabird species) and Cerros de Amotape National Park (for the protection of wildlife-rich tropical dry equatorial forests). The park has no tourist services and is best visited in the winter months from April to September.

White water rafting is popular on the Tumbes River (May to October), where rapids are found between the towns of Figuerosa and Rica Playa. Rafters get the added thrill of encountering crocodiles, otters and iguanas too.