Northern Beaches

DCO Suites | Mancora

Chicama Surf Resort | Chiclayo

Peru might not be well-known for stretching golden beaches lined with palm trees and sparkling blue water, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Travellers heading north along the pacific coast from Lima - towards the warmer tropical waters near the Ecuadorian border – will find many beaches of excellent quality that enjoy favourable weather year round. These are perfect for soaking up some sunshine in the traditional fashion, with the hottest sunshine months falling between November and April.

An excursion to the northern beaches makes a fitting finale to an action packed tour of Peru; it is a great opportunity to try some fresh seafood, partake in some beach activities or simply enjoy total relaxation on the beach while reflecting on all of the destinations visited. We highly recommend the area for newlyweds planning their honeymoons in Peru: romantic sunsets over the Pacific are in abundance.

Activities

As with any beach resort the world over, the usual array of outdoor activities can be found; boat excursions, nature trips, horse riding, kite surfing and all manner of other water sports are all possible on Peru’s northern beaches.

Peru surfing in particular has become very popular with more and more surfers attracted to the untapped potential of the country’s waves. For this purpose we recommend Chicama Surf Resort, an ideal choice for families as it offers a wide range of activities for all age groups. At Chicama, surfers will find the world's longest left 1 mile wave of a seemingly never-ending tube.

Another favourite adventure activity of ours is Whale Watching; it is possible to take a boat out on to the Pacific to spot humpback whales migrating north from late July through to October. Aracari’s excursion heads out on to the open ocean on a very comfortable boat called the Yate, which is complete with bathroom, and there is an 80% chance of seeing the whales.

In a less conventional manner, Peruvian beaches have an added edge, a rustic and natural ambience to which many saturated resorts in the Caribbean or the Med could not lay claim; perhaps this is due to the same crashing swells of the Pacific that surfers are drawn to, or it could be the thousands of years of history that the area has seen prior to European arrival. Indeed, the North is an area of rich cultural heritage. The Moche route is dotted with important ruins, and tours to see these can easily be incorporated into a trip north.

The Lay of the Sand
The best known destination on the north coast is Mancora, a somewhat laid back and ramshackle fishing town. Along the coast from here are some excellent hotels, beach resorts and private beach houses that can be rented, making a Mancora beach vacation most appealing. Aracari’s choice of Mancora hotels is very appealing. In addition, there are many other bases from where to explore the best beaches, such as Piura and Chiclayo, for example.

Access

There are daily flights to both Piura and Chiclayo direct from Lima, Mancora is a further 3 hours transfer from Piura. Tumbes is another access point

It is not advised to travel to Mancora during Peruvian national holidays as the beaches can become mobbed with travelers from other parts of Peru who sojourn here with the extra days off work.