Tacna

Tacna, about 1300km south of Lima by road, is Peru's southernmost town and capital of its department. Home to about 150,000 people, the elevation is 560m. Only 36km from the Chilean border, Tacna has strong historical ties with that country. It became part of Chile in 1880, during the War of the Pacific, and remained so until 1929, when its people voted to return it to Peru. The main reason to visit Tacna is to cross the border into Chile, or to indulge in some bargain shopping for high tech electronics or good quality optical gear.