Mancora: The perfect place to relax in Peru

While Peru has thousands of miles of coastline, it’s not typically known as a beach destination. Why? Because the cold Humboldt Current makes its waters surprisingly cold and brings a persistent fog known as La Jarroa.

The exception? The small northern corner beyond the stream, crowned by Mancora, has constant sunshine and warm, bath-like waters. Throw in the surf, amazing nightlife and whale watching, and you’ll be on a winning path to rival the best of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

I spent 4 beautiful, sunny days in Mancora, and would have gladly stayed longer if I didn’t have to race across Ecuador to catch my flight to Europe. Your first impression is likely to come, as it did to me, through the veil of sleepiness caused by a night bus.

However, prepare to shake off your fatigue the moment you lay eyes on the blue waters and jagged beaches. Golden sand and warm water bring back the pure joy of childhood.

Why visit Mancora?

I chose to visit Mancora as my body had been bullied for weeks by the vertical world of Peru’s trekking capital, Huaraz. I wanted nothing more than to lay on the beach and feel warmth on my skin for the first time in a while.

What I didn’t expect is that Mancora is more than just a sunbed. It’s alive with marine life, has a vibrant food scene and is one of Peru’s premier surfing destinations. Whether you want to relax or get active, Mancora is not a place you should skip.

Arriving in Mancora

Mancora is located in the far north of Peru, so getting there from Lima is difficult 20 hour bus ride. Your trip will likely be divided into any number of interesting places within those thousands of miles.

The nearest big city is Trujillo, which is 10 hours away by bus – a convenient time for an overnight bus.

For those coming from the north, Mancora is served by buses from Guayaquil (8 hour bus trip), Cuenca (11 hour bus ride), and Keto (15 hour bus ride). It is also possible to fly to Piura Airport and take a 3-hour bus to Mancora.

Mancora beaches (and the best places to stay near them)

If you come to Mancora, you’re probably a beach bum. The beauty of Mancora is that there is a beach to suit all tastes – seclusion, partying or a luxury experience.

Playa Amor

Located in the northern reaches of Mancora, far from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, this hotel is a sweeping crescent of golden sand devoid of any street vendors but also without the beach bars and sun beds. There are some local shops serving ice cream five minutes from the beach. Bring a book, take a walk in peace and bathe in the calm sea.

There are lots of accommodation options here – I stayed in one Wild Rover Inn Here, which contrary to its loud reputation was very chill and good value. Alternatively, get a Robinson Crusoe experience of total peace at Mancora Apartments, perfect for you and your loved ones.

Mancora Beach

This is the city sector. At high tide, there is a feeling of being about to be washed away by the Pacific Ocean as the ocean precariously approaches the streets. Enjoy the beautiful chaos while you can.

There are bars on the beach, dozens of restaurants, sun beds, and hostels or hotels with pools that you can use for the cost of a drink. Sunbathe and people watch the magnificent Peruvian scenery and gringo peacocks along the promenade.

This is where you find the liveliest hostels. The famous Point Inn She has a really crazy nightlife, as she does Lucky del Maran outpost of this famous chain of party houses. Mancora peak It offers a quieter atmosphere and plenty of co-working spaces for digital nomads or those of you keeping the party at bay.

Los Positas

This section of Mancora Beach feels separate from the rest of the city. The expanse of dusty roads and beach bars gives way to the roads of beach resorts. Come here for an upscale resort experience. Luxuriate in the tropical sun at an all-inclusive hotel and immerse yourself in the rest of Mancora at your leisure.

It is possible to visit this part of Mancora and experience the high life by purchasing lunch at a hotel. Particularly notable resorts include Sausalito Beach and Grandmar Hotel. Be careful, it’s a 20 minute walk or 5 minute moto taxi ride.

Waves scene

Mancora is the only tropical surf spot in Peru, and the warm waters are a unique selling point compared to the extreme cold in other areas further south. Especially for beginners dipping their toes into the sport, the fact that the water resembles a Turkish bath makes it much easier and fun to keep going and improving.

The waves are not particularly big and are suitable for beginners and intermediate levels. There are two types of rest houses in Mancora: Mancora Pointdirectly in front of the city beach Poquetas. Both are points to the left — where the wave breaks to the left as it rides to shore.

This makes the break long and smooth and excellent for practicing turns and maneuvers. The best time of day to rip waves is from 1-3pm as the low tide advances inshore and the waves are pumping.

Mancora Point has the bigger waves and is the busier of the two, so be careful of people getting into your line! For smaller waves and more tranquility, head to Boquetas.

There are many options for surf camps in Mancora. Learning with the help of professional instructors and immersing yourself in surfing culture is a great way to make big leaps. The beauty of this is that you can learn a life-improving skill for a fraction of the cost in your home country.

The premium option is Algae surf campwhich offers week-long in-house training courses that include yoga classes. Instead, Surfer house We will be giving kite surfing lessons as well.

For those looking to go it alone, expect to pay 20 soles/$6 USD for a two-hour surfboard rental from the plethora of vendors on Mancora Beach or 40 soles/$12 USD for a full day. One private surfing lesson will cost you around 80 soles/$24 USD.

Kite surfing has also taken off in Mancora in recent years. Residential camps, lessons and rentals are available free of charge. Featured operators are Surf Racer House and Kite Club Mancora.

For experienced surfers looking for bigger waves, Mancora is just an hour from Lobitos, which has a famous left-handed wave that typically extends 200 metres.

Parties in Mancora style

The fun in Mancora doesn’t end at sunset. It has a reputation as a party city, and for good reason. I celebrated Peruvian Independence Weekend here and it was some of the craziest nightlife I’ve ever experienced in South America!

There are many beach bars to have a cocktail after surfing and watch the sunset. My favorite was Bar el Naufrago, a quirky shipwreck-themed establishment located right on the beach.

There is one traditional nightclub, Boulevard Mancora, but I found that the action was concentrated around a large number of party houses.

Loque de Mar Hostel It holds loud parties that attract most travelers to the city. I really enjoyed the scene in The pointwhich was great for meeting new people due to its small size and constant rounds of drinking games. I also loved the beach vibe, which adds the crashing of the waves to the nighttime soundtrack. I actually found it Wild Rover The quietest of the party houses, but they can still attract good crowds when you throw an event.

The highlight of my late night time in Mancora was the pop-up rave at the Mancora Lighthouse. I heard about it on the water from a local surfer, so keep your eyes peeled on land for similar hidden gems!

More things to do in Mancora

Whale watching

From mid-July to October, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters around Mancora and Ecuador to give birth. They are sometimes even visible from the beach. However, for a more reliable look at these marine giants, check this out Take a boat tour.

It takes 2 to 4 hours and also includes a look at oil rigs decorated with sea lions! Expect to pay between 120-130 SOL / 35-38 USD for this trip.

Horse riding on the beach

The world is different from horseback riding. There’s nothing like the rhythmic clip of hooves and the music of the waves as you look out at the sea from an extra height. You can easily experience this in Mancora with a range of operators offering two-hour excursions in the area at a cost of 40 soles/US$12 from Playa Mancora.

Sample of food

Peru’s food scene is becoming a growing secret, and Mancora is the perfect place to try amazing ceviche. This is fresh raw fish cured in lime juice with chili peppers, onions, salt and coriander. Head anywhere in Mancora Plaza to craft it in front of you for 10 Soles.

On GetYourGuide, you can join a unique group Organos beach tourwhich allows you to experience fishing, then prepare authentic Peruvian ceviche and enjoy it right next to the ocean. For a more traditional lunch option, go to Green eggs and ham For a banquet of pancakes and coffee made by the barista.

Day trip to Tumbes

This city is where Pizarro and his fellow Spaniards first landed in Peru 500 years ago to change its historical fate forever.

Today, it is known for its opportunity taking Boat trip through coastal mangrove forests. As the boat passes through the surreal flooded forest, you will find dozens of crocodiles and hundreds of bird species. Expect to pay around 80 soles/$24 USD for this experience.

Yoga

There are plenty of options to stretch out after a day on the waves or a bad hangover. Head to Algae Surf Camp for some yoga on the beach, or go to Mancora Yoga for your yoga fix.

Essential travel tips

I wasn’t aware of the sheer size of the mosquitoes in Mancora and was thus devastated by the little bloodsuckers until I wised up and bought some repellent. Lather yourself with repellent if you’d rather not spend your beach days scratching yourself.

I have also been concerned about unscrupulous tour operators running excursions to swim with turtles. Swimming with these marine giants is a misnomer: you’re harassing them, risking death from propellers, and evidence suggests disrupting their reproductive patterns. Avoid these tours!