Zorritos: Hotels and Oil History
Accommodation in Zorritos
Hotel Search and Destination Profile
Zorritos is a tourist beach resort whose identity is also shaped by the history of the oil industry. When looking for a hotel here, you can include historic landmarks and recurring celebrations in your travel plans, alongside the beach resort itself. A PROMPERĂš travel guide, updated in September 2023, lists a wide range of tourist services, hotels, and restaurants in Zorritos. When searching, check the availability of the specific hotel for your travel dates.
Getting There from Tumbes
The distance from Tumbes to Plazuela Faustino Piaggio is 27 kilometers. By private car, the journey takes about 30 minutes and follows a paved road. The travel time is an estimate and may vary. This route provides a specific reference point for your planning if you want to include the plaza in your stay in Zorritos.
Oil History and Memorial Sites
On November 2, 1863, Well No. 4 was opened in Zorritos; it is considered the first of its kind in Latin America. A wooden tower in Plazuela Faustino Piaggio commemorates the first oil well in South America, which was drilled on the same date. There is also a bust there commemorating Faustino Piaggio. Originally from Genoa, Piaggio developed the oil industry in Zorritos and headed the CompañĂa Peruana de Refinar PetrĂłleo.
The tower and bust highlight different aspects: the tower commemorates the well, while the bust commemorates Faustino Piaggio. Playa Zorritos is also associated with the first oil well in South America, which is also considered the second oldest in the world. The plaza and the beach thus connect different aspects of the area with Zorritos’ early oil history.
Annual Celebrations
Zorritos’ political founding anniversary is celebrated every year on November 25. The program varies from year to year and may also include sports competitions that make use of the beach resort’s waters. The summer carnivals in the tourist beach resort take place in February and are a popular folk celebration. Their program includes beach volleyball and beach soccer competitions, as well as a creative sand-sculpting contest.
The anniversary and the carnivals offer different dates to plan around: the November celebration returns on a fixed date, but the program changes; in February, the focus is on carnival competitions. If the celebration dates matter when choosing a hotel, check that year’s program and consider whether your trip falls closer to November or February.
Thermal Baths Nearby
The Baños termales de Hervideros, south of Zorritos, are a destination in the surrounding area. You can reach the baths via a turnoff near Bocapán. Visits are possible only by prior appointment; check the arrangements before setting out and book your visit in advance. Plan this excursion as an activity that needs to be arranged beforehand.
For the broader travel overview: Zorritos.
