Colán

Just 15km / 9mi north of Paita is the small town of Colán. Although there are beautiful beaches all over the far north coast of Peru, the Colán area has some of the best. The beaches of Esmeralda and Palmeras are a great place to soak up the sun and enjoy the warm water that laps the white sand. Homes on stilts from the 1950s line the beach.

The Iglesia San Lucas in Colán is the oldest church in Peru. It was built in 1536 by Dominican friars. There is not a lot else in Colán and service for travelers are limited to the resorts.