Department of Tumbes

Tumbes
Departamento de Tumbes (Spanish)
Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary
Flag of Tumbes
Coat of arms of Tumbes
Location of the Tumbes Region in Peru
Location of the Tumbes Region in Peru
Coordinates: 3°53′S 80°35′W / 3.88°S 80.59°W / -3.88; -80.59
CountryPeru
Subdivisions3 provinces and 12 districts
CapitalTumbes
Government
 • GovernorWilmer Dios Benites
(2019–2022)
Area
 • Total4,045.86 km2 (1,562.12 sq mi)
Elevation
(Capital)
7 m (23 ft)
Highest elevation
134 m (440 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total224,863
 • Density56/km2 (140/sq mi)
UBIGEO
24
Dialing code072
ISO 3166 codePE-TUM
Principal resourcesPetroleum, tobacco, bananas and fishing.
Poverty rate46.8%
Percentage of Peru's GDP0.49%
Websitewww.regiontumbes.gob.pe
Punta Sal

Tumbes (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtumbes]) is a coastal department and region in northwestern Peru bordering Ecuador. Due to the region's location near the Equator it has a warm climate, with beaches that are considered among the finest in Peru. [citation needed] Despite its small area, the region contains a wide variety of ecosystems. It is the smallest department in Peru and its third least populous department after Moquegua and Madre de Dios, but it is also its third most densely populated department, after La Libertad and Lambayeque.

The name "Tumbes" originates from either Tumpis, a group of native peoples from the area, the word tumbos, a species of Passiflora that used to abound in the area, or the name of the Tumba cacique, whose son founded and populated the area.