Piura is a department of Peru. Located on the country's northwestern coast, it is known for its tropical and dry beaches. It is the most populous department and region in Peru, its twelfth smallest department, and its fourth-most densely populated department, after Tumbes, La Libertad, and Lambayeque. It is administered by regional government. Its capital is Piura and its largest port cities, Paita and Talara, are also among the most important in Peru.