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Since the last decades of the 20th century, Ilo has been emerging as the largest and most economically important city in the department of Moquegua.



The region in which Ilo is located was populated in pre-Columbian times by the Chiribaya ethnic group. The current city was founded by the Spanish at the time of the colony and, although the exact date is not known, it is known with certainty that it was closely linked to that of Moquegua around 1541. From its origins it fulfilled the function of port city at the service of commerce and agriculture generated in it. The settlement around the anchorage evolved until configuring the colonial city of which today some buildings can still be seen, many of them with their characteristic mojinete (gabled roof with a chamfered ridge). Ilo's architectural legacy such as the San Gerónimo Church, the José Gálvez Glorieta and the Fiscal Pier have been rehabilitated and are maintained until now.



Throughout the 20th century, migratory movements from Andean regions made the city grow, so that at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, 6 areas were distinguished: ´´The port´´, ´´Villa del mar´´, ´´Nuevo Ilo´´, ´´Alto Ilo´´, ´´Miramar´´ and ´´The wireless pampa´´.



The port is the commercial zone itself, while Alto Ilo and La Pampa Inalámbrica are the result of the urban expansion of the 20th century. Ilo is one of the cleanest and most orderly ports in the country, you can see its various boardwalks located at different levels of the city as well as modern constructions that enhance and comfort the visitor who arrives in the city. There is also the ecological and tourist nature reserve of Punta de coles where a diversity of marine fauna is observed. Ilo has beautiful beaches adapted to the demands of tourists such as Puerto Inglés, Boca del Río, and the modern tourist complex in Pozo de lizas; as well as beaches suitable for adventure tourism such as Las Nurses, Pocoma, Hierba Buena, Wawa-kiki, Jaboncillo and Platanal.



In Ilo is the first copper processing plant in the country operated by Southern Copper, as well as the thermo-electric plant owned by the transnational GDF Suez.







Ilo is a city in southeastern Peru, capital of the province of Ilo (Department of Moquegua), located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean south of the mouth of the Osmore River and northeast of Punta Coles. The port of Ilo has an important traffic, transporting merchandise from and to the interior of the south of the country. In 2005, more than 57 thousand people resided in the city.







BEACHES OF ILO Ilo is characterized by its beautiful beaches that are visited daily by tourists who come from different cities, among the best known beaches we have:



Pozo de Lisas Beach, Boca del Rio, Las Tres Hermanas, Puerto Inglés, Media Luna, Pocoma, Jaboncillo, Las Enfermeras, Gentilar, Bolivia Mar, Tronco de Oro, Platanal and Wawakiki.



Pozo de lizas Beach: It is one of the most visited in the summer, it is located 4 kilometers south of the port and has a coast of regular depth and currents that do not represent risks for bathers. Puerto Inglés Beach: It is located south of Ilo , 2 km away, approximately 5 minutes by car, simulates a natural swimming pool with still and crystalline waters; This beach receives this name because it was the scene of the landing of the terrible English corsair Francis Drake. SAINT PATRONS OF THE PROVINCE



ST GERONIMO. The image of the patron saint was a little further north, which today is the General and San Jeronimo cemetery, until on August 13, 1868, the terrible tidal wave occurred and caused considerable damage to the town, where there were more than a dozen of dead, in this catastrophe the image of the patron saint and the Virgin of the Rosary were left intact. I assure the population at that time that it was a miracle. The religious and traditional devotion increased every day as well as the petitions to the patron saints



VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO The Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, considered as the patron saint of the port of Ilo, from the first settlers who existed worshiped in this town, since centuries past. Previously it was in the old temple in Pacocha, after the earthquake that occurred in 1868 on August 13 at 4:45 pm. The image of the Virgin was saved along with the patron saint San Jeronimo.



Today the image of the Stma. Virgen del Rosario is located in the San Jerónimo church, in the main square of Ilo.



According to the Catholic calendar, the feast of the Virgin of the Rosary is on October 7, but it is celebrated on the second Sunday of October, because most of the time it was a working day, that is why the date was changed.

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