Photo: Humberto Currarino

Photo: Humberto Currarino

Despite its charm, La Punta did not become really famous until about two hundred years after Cobo described its beauty. In the middle of the 19th century a bathing pool was built there and was so popular that the Public Welfare Office in Callao received a donation of railway ties in order to build an animal-powered streetcar to more easily transport people to the summer spot.

In 1894, the English Railway Company was authorized to extend its service to the hamlet at La Punta and one year later, the first train arrived. The area offered clean water, streetcar service from Lima, a pleasant maritime breeze and elegant buildings overlooking its central plaza. With all of these benefits, the area was designated as a district in 1915.
The esthetic improvements didn't stop there. Years later, La Punta began to reflect the splendor of Limeñan architecture, which was developed during the second presidency of Augusto Leguía.

It was easy to admire the beautiful homes, inhale the gentle perfume of the abundant jasmine flowers and glance at the streetcar as it ran along the town's main streets. Distinguished looking gentlemen would arrive with finely dressed ladies during the bright summer mornings. The ladies would later appear from the changing rooms modeling the latest swimming suits of the era, setting the imagination of the young men on fire.

On the streets it was possible to hear the faint echo of costume parties, and to see children running along the pier and couples shying away from the gaze of strangers.