Pirwa Travel Guide: The Beach Town of Máncora

The seaside resort town of Máncora in northwestern Perú has become an obligatory stop for long-term backpackers seeking some respite after the cold altiplano and snowy Andean peaks. In fact, it’s become so popular with travelers of all stripes, as well as with Peruvians, that Lonely Planet has taken to referring to it as “Peru’s worst-kept secret”.

Máncora’s sandy beaches and surf waves are among the country’s best. Although service can be slow, tantalizingly fresh seafood is available for as little as five Peruvian soles, as it was a fishing town at heart. Granted, the tourist-class restaurants with the best locations can charge high prices. Nowadays, however, its the popular resorts, spas, and nightclubs that are doing steady business. Surfboards can be rented cheaply along the ocean front, just US$4 for 2 hours. Those with more money to burn can try a kiteboarding course (a pricey choice at more than US$300) or scuba diving. During the appropriate season, 3-hour whale watching excursion, or high-sea fishing trips, are available as well.

Getting There & Around

Máncora is located halfway between Talara and Tumbes and bisected by the Panamericana Highway. It’s easily accessed by bus from Lima, with major reputable bus companies like Cruz del Sur and Ormeña offering daily departures.

You can also fly from Lima to the Talara or Tumbes airports, or you can fly into Piura and take a bus or car the final two and a half hours.

You’ll find yourself dropped off along the highway, around which most of the bars, restaurants and hotels are clustered. The town is small enough for walking, although you could hail a moto-taxi for just S/1 Peruvian sol.

For assistance planning or arranging your route or itinerary, feel free to contact the specialists of Pirwa Travel Service at pirwatravel@gmail.com.

When to Go

Máncora’s high season coincides with its very hot summer, which lasts from December through March. This means a booming nightclub scene (and the attendant higher prices for lodging and the like). However, the rest of the year is sunny, with ocean breezes and daily temperatures never falling below 25 C°, allowing for year-round popularity. The climate only disappoints in March and April, the brief rainy season.

Experienced or budding surfers tend to visit when the waves are largest, in December and January, while the whale-watching season lasts from August through November. New Year’s Eve is a big draw, which special party buses bringing in the crowds. Regardless, you can catch fireworks and parties on the beach pretty much year-round, and without the New Years’ Eve crush…