Peru has a maritime vocation, it is a maritime nation by reason of geography, logic and history. From prehistoric times, the men who have lived in this land have been linked, in one way or another, to the sea. Proof of this can be found in the so-called preincaic cultures such as Paracas, Nazca, and Mochica-Chimu.
The Incas made exploratory voyages in search of fabled isles, and it was in fact, with a raft from Tumbes, that the first decisive and fruitful contact between the old Andean civilization and the new western and Christian culture was made. Later, the vice-regal sea would be traversed by galleons ballasted with silver, which aroused the greed of privateors and pirates, making the name "Peru" synonymous with "wealth".
Over the sea came the liberating expedition of General Jose de San Martin. In the Republican era, the sea has continued acting decisively upon our country; and it was, in this imposing splendour, the only stage worthy of the inmortal deeds of the monitor
"Huascar" and its heroic admiral, Miguel Grau.
The sea, our sea, has always been generous. We owe it the prosperity (albeit not always used to the best avail) derived from the sale of "guano" in the European and North American markets during the nineteenth century. Likewise, we owe it the fishing wealth of modern days. The sea is and will continue to be in the future, the great reservoir of food and primary prducts for humanity.
Our house, the Institute of Peruvian, Maritime Historical Studies, promotes studies of an historical nature of the coastal waters, rivers and lakes of Peru, and motivates and stimulates a national maritime consciousness. The fundamental work is the Historia Maritima del Peru. In it, are studied the activities and contacts of Peruvian man with the ocean from remote antiquity down to our days. There are 23 volumes, in which are combined erudition with an excellent typographical presentation. It is considered one of our best works to date.
More information in our page.