Callao (Lima, Peru)

Port Callao (cruise and cargo port for Lime Peru) features one of the largest and deepest natural harbours on South America's Pacific Ocean coast. The city has population around 1 million and is part of Lima Metropolitana (metro region) with combined population around 10,5 million. Callao has Peru's largest seaport and airport (Jorge Chavez). Downtown Callao is located approx 15 km (9 mi) west of downtown Lima. On shore excursions from Callao, cruise tourists can visit the ancient Inca sites Cuzco and Machu Picchu in the Andean Mountains.

The town was founded by the Spanish in 1537 and since then is ranked one of South America's largest seaports. Callao was the primary port for shipping Inca Empire's silver and gold taken by the Spaniards.

Best-known tourist attractions in Callao include La Punta district (premium residential neighborhood), Castillo de Real Felipe (historical castle/fortress overlooking the harbor), several nearby islands - San Lorenzo (military base), El Fronton ex high-security prison), Cavinzas and Palomino Islands (with large colonies of sea lions and seabirds).

Jorge Chavez is an international airport (Peru's main/largest) located approx 11 km (7 mi) from Lima City. In 2017, the airport handled 22+ million passengers (foreign and domestic). Regularly-scheduled international flights link to major airports in South America, Latin America, USA, Canada, Europe.

Container carriers (boxships) are served by APM Terminals Callao, subsidiary of The Hague-headquartered APM Terminals - one of world's largest container port and terminal operators in terms of overall annual cargo handled. APM Terminals Callao operates Peru’s largest multipurpose cargo terminal and annually handles ~40% of country’s total containership traffic and ~70% of Peru’s non-containerized cargoes (including grains, RoRo, cement, chemicals, steel products, frozen fish. In 2016 was completed port's USD 460 million container terminal expansion and modernization project, by which new equipment was delivered and port's infrastructure was improved and expanded.