For the first time in its history, Peru will host the South American Triathlon

After the success of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, which were rated the best in history, Peru is preparing to host more world-class sporting events this year. One of them will be the South American Triathlon Championship, the first to be held in the country, and where the promotion of tourism will also play an important role. It will take place on May 2 and 3 in Lima.

Five hundred triathletes from 12 Latin American countries will arrive in the capital in search of glory and qualification for major competitions: The World Championship in Canada (8 spots) and the Junior Pan American Championship in Santa Domingo (15 spots), but that's not all. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the diverse tourist attractions in the capital, the only one on the continent facing the Pacific Ocean.

Tourist attractions 

The event will be held on the Costa Verde circuit, which links the districts of Chorrillos, Barranco, Miraflores, San Isidro, Magdalena and San Miguel. There are various attractions on this route. The event is in the same area as the beach circuit, which is a good location for leisure activities and for doing water and extreme sports. The most popular beaches are La Herradura, Barranquito, Punta Roquitas, Makaha, Los Delfines and Marbella.

For culture lovers, we have the Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores. This archaeological site is a Cultural Heritage Site in Peru. It was built in the 5th century by the Lima culture. In spite of its age, it contains some valuable items in good conditions that are on display in the museum. There is also Huaca Huallamarca in San Isidro, an unfinished pyramid that houses pre-Hispanic tombs and archaeological remains such as textiles, ceramics and musical instruments.

The Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) is another tourist attraction near the competition site and also one of the most emblematic sites in Barranco. It was built in 1876 to join two ravines. It was rebuilt after the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). Nowadays it is a favorite spot for musicians and poets. It also has one of the most beautiful views of the sea. 

This area of Lima also encourages tourists to visit its green areas, such as the Central Park of Miraflores, noted for attracting artists from different fields. It is also the scene of cultural activities, such as craft and book fairs. The gastronomy on offer around it is another attraction. 

The competition

The high level of the South American Triathlon Championship is guaranteed. The Peruvian Federation of this sport, organizer of the event, confirmed the participation of elite triathletes, such as Olympic athletes Carlos Javier Quinchara from Colombia, Reinaldo Colucci from Brazil and Luciano Taccone from Argentina; while in the women's event we will have Chilean world champion Barbara Riveros and Ecuadorian South American champion Elizabeth Bravo.

Did you know?

Triathlon is a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running events. The South American Championship in Peru will be a sprint triathlon, with shorter distances than the Olympic competition. It consists of a 0.46-mile swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. The youth category components are a 0.25-mile run, a 6.21-mile bike ride and a 155-mile run.   

Details

The Peruvian Triathlon Federation organized the Continental Cup in 2018 and the penultimate round of the World Cup in 2019.  

Sources: La República/ Instituto Peruano del Deporte/ Municipalidad de Barranco