LIMITS
On the north : By the province of Tumbes
On the south : By the province of Paita
On the east : By the province of Sullana
On the west : By the Pacific Ocean

EXTENSION
2,799.49 Km2

ALTITUDE AND WEATHER ASPECTS
The Province of Talara is a 4°34’39” latitude and 81°16’12” longitude shaping a varied weather littoral which oscillate about 20°C; it’s altitude is 15 m above sea level.

BRIEF HISTORICAL OUTLINE
Chroniclers do not mention this region in their reports, on the other hand, they mention widely the Chira, Piura and Tumbes valleys, and this because talking about it’s geographical environment, Talara is a vast desert whose dunes go into sea.
During the times of the Colony, by means of native information it became Known the existing of a mine of “Copé tar ”where the Spanish went to search it to use it applying it to their ropes and fishing equipment to caulk boats.
For his part Raimondi, remarks “That is Amotape exist asphalt which being mixed with
Clayey sand, looks as masses whose color is nearly chocolate with a light bituminous color and that it flames up and burns with darkened flames, leaving a sandy tisuna”
Just in 1849, a little bit more than century, the first “black gold” prospectors started to arrive, since oil was a vital product for the industrial civilization that was hidden below it’s arid and desert surface. Under the sign of wok and ambition Talara was born as a simple labourers’ quarters, as a camp to transform into what at present is: a city.
Being Antonio Manso de Velasco count of Superunda Viceroy of Peru, The Spanish Royal Crown provided that the oilfields whose value was entirely known by the Spanish became royal inheritance.
As years went by and in 1710, a family named De la Cruz was allowed to run the mine for a century, in other words till 1810.
On making the Viceroyalty into republic, the Peruvian state was the legitimate heir of the mine, which was transferred to Jose Antonio Quintana in September the 28th, 1826 as payment for the credit of tour thousand nine hundred seventy four pesos that Mr. Quintana had lended Ecuador during the independence war.
Later on Mr. Quintana sold the property to Jose de Lama. After Mr. Lama died in 1850 the property was divided into heirs, being the mine and the so-called zone “La Brea” given to Mrs. Josefa de Lama, meanwhile de section called “Pariñas” was transfered to widow Mrs. Luisa Godos de Lama.
After wards, t6his mine became Mr. Genaro Helguero’s property who traveled to the United States to hire Eduardo Fowks to bring to the country the necessary machinery and equipments to stars the oil working.
The high cost required by this enterprise, caused the property transferred in favour of Herbert Tweddle, according to the conveyance of September the third,1888, who at a time transferred half his rights to his fellow countryman William Keswisck.
The following year, the partners handed over the mine and the property to the English Society “London and Pacific Petroleum” for 99 years.
In 1914, the English company transferred the leasing to the Canadian International Petroleum, Which in 1924 bought from Mr. Keswick, the concessionaire Mr. Tweddle and heirs it was exclusively Peruvian state’s property.
This operation took place the 28th of February, 1924 in the presence of the Peruvian Consul in London, as it is stated in the conveyance registred in the register of Real State of Piura, page 171, volume 19, entry 6.

MAIN TOURIST ATRACTIONS
-Mancora beach.- northern beach, fishers’ town, it a northern littoral bay, with clear and warm waters.
It is easy to get to Mancora and a Weekend trip to this peaceful town turns into an unforgettable experience. It is situated by the side of the North Panamerican highway, one hour from Tumbes and 45 minutes from Talara.

CABO BLANCO BEACH
It is the Peruvian underwater fishing paradise. It is placed 3 Km from El Alto .
Because of it’s favorable natural conditions it owns a rich ictiofauna. The originality of the sea, is reflected in such factors such as fauna and flora.
Cabo Blanco access, getting to Talara, goes to El Alto, since here we take the via to the west going down through steep hills, from where it is possible to look over majesty of it’s esmerald waters, clean shores and the cape that goes into sea.
If the visitor arrives at night, he or she will see a illuminated marine platforms wood that reflects the sea phosphorescence and boats with their lights giving an evening and unforgettable spectacle.

PUNTA BALCONES BEACH
It is located in the district of “La Brea”(Negritos), province of Talara, department of Piura.
Erosion agents’ action have created different shapes in it’s relief. Punta Balcones is a promontory and constitutes a seals habitat.
The visitor can get to the town of Negritos which is 1 Km from La Brea passing by san Pablo that is a fishers’ small bay, going up to the promontory that is at 80 m above sea level and will be able to see seals in crowds since the small ones which hardly put their snouts out among the rocks till enormous brown- skinned specimens.
Among the lighthouse(Punta Pariñas) and Punta Balcones it is placed the half-moon- shaped beach with clear waters and excellent waves to practice nautical sports, specially Hawaiian board and fishing.

LAS PEÑITAS BEACH
40 Km from Talara, with pictures aspect for the rocky zone.

CAPULLANAS BEACH
15 Km from Talara, induce someone to enjoy stillness and peaceful.

HALACAS BEACH
(Adjacent to the fertilizer complex). It is a small beach with rocky zones.

LOBITOS BEACH
(It is placed next to military camp in lobitos). Large with rocky zones. Attractive.

LOS ORGANOS BEACH
Large and with an attractive aspect.

PARIÑAS FOREST
It is a carob tree forest where typical species of the desert zone live. 18 Km east from Talara among the Amotape hills’ spurs and the Coastal desert of Talara.

AMOTAPE HILLS
Ecologist placed the National Forest of Amotape’s hills in the ecozo-geographical zone of the Ecuatorial dry forest. On it’s border, the Amotape’s hills stand out by their fauna and flora.
As a result, to safeguard this marvelloveus habitat, the government of Peru since 1965 issued measures for a regeneration state and fixed a minimum diameter to develop the forestall species that is why the Amotape’s Hills National Park was established, so as to preserve the natural resources, not only for it’s ecological importance but it’s a natural inheritance indissolubly joined to the History of Grau region mainly.
LOS ESNOBIONES
(Upper Talara, Negritos)

YACIMIENTO DE FOSIL DE BALLENAS
(Whale’s remains deposit) El Alto , it is a group of petried whales remains

CONTINENTAL BASE PLATFORM
(Negritos, Lobitos, El Alto) Where oil is extracted from the sea.

TALARA REFINERY
It’s produced gas, petrol, oil, grease, etc.

GRAU MONUMENT
(Grau square, Talara) It’s a modern monument standing out Grau’s statue

FRANCISCO BOLOGNESI STATUE
(Situated in “B” avenue, Talara, it is a simple and modern style oval.

GASTRONOMY
It is varied, being the most outstanding dishes:
- “Cebiche de Mero” (grouper cebiche)
- “Chilcano de Pescado” (fish clear soup)
- “Fried fish”
- “Pescado entomatado” (fried fish and tomato slices)
- “Seco de Cabrito” (on the basis of young goat)
- “Mondonguito” (cow’s guts)
- “Pavo horneado” (bakey turkey)
- “Tollito” (seasoned fish)

PROVINCIAL FESTIVITY CALENDAR
In February the 20th the next festivities are celebrated: Saint Pablo(Negritos), Saint Peter(Talara)Cabo Blanco, El Ñuro, Los Organos and Mancora.
March 15- 20: Talara’s anniversary week.
March 17th : Creation of “El Alto and Lobitos” by law
April: Holy Week: Religious festivity of remarkable rooting within catholic population in Talara.
June 22- 28: Regional fair of Craft Fishing
June 28-29-30: San Pedro y San Pablo festivity
July 28-29: Independence day festivity
October 2: Talara’s certificate signing
October 9: “La Brea and Pariñas” recovery.
October 31: “La Brea ”district’s foundation anniversary
November 14: Mancora’s foundation anniversary
December 8: Blessed Inmaculated Virgin’s festivity
December 11: Los Organos anniversary