Asia District, Peru

Asia
District
A beach in Asia, Cañete
Location of Asia in the Cañete province
Country	Peru
Region	Lima
Province	Cañete
Founded	July 24, 1964
Capital	Asia
Government
• Mayor	José Arias Chumpitaz (2011-2014)
Area
• Total	279.36 km2 (107.86 sq mi)
Population (2007 census)
• Total	6,618
• Density	24/km2 (61/sq mi)
Time zone	PET (UTC-5)
Website	muniasia.gob.pe

The Asia District (Distrito de Asia) is one of 16 that make up the Peru province of Cañete. Founded by Beinto Chumpitaz Chavez on July 24, 1964, it was originally part of the Coayllo District. Asia's beaches overlook the Pacific Ocean making it a popular summer getaway for the residents of Lima, the Peruvian capital, which is an hour drive north.

Asia is bordered by Mala District to the north, Cerro Azul District and Quilmaná District to the south, and Coayllo District to the east. Its principal town is 97.5 kilometers south of Lima, approximately a two-hour drive.

Development of Asia's beaches began in the mid-1970s, with the creation of Las Palmas, the first condominium to be built on the beach. Kerosene lamps lit buildings, as electricity did not arrive until a second condo, Los Cocos, was developed. For many years, running water was not available, and water had to be trucked in.

By the 1990s, a reasonable level of housing development had been reached, but there were few businesses on the Camino Real, the road that connects Asia's beaches to the Panamerican Highway. Among the first businesses were a night club called Ibiza, the Sur Market, and a supermarket called Los Tres Chanchitos. Over the course of the decade, a movie theater and an E. Wong supermarket came to the city, along with many small shops and restaurants. Today's Asia has stores offering nearly all the products and services available in Lima.

The Camino Real is now home to many more nightclubs, including Juanito, Cocobongo, and Tsunami. The open-air shopping mall, Sur Plaza Boulevard, has more clubs, including trendy spots such as Café del Mar and Nikita, complemented by the lower-priced La Huaka and Joia. There are also three movie theaters, children's playgrounds, Peruvian restaurants, and a number of bars and pubs. Along the Asia Beach there are hotels, resorts, and upscale homes, even mansions.

View of Asia Boulevard during summertime