Mancora is probably one of the best travel destinations in Perú. It has warmed beaches all year sunny, bright sand, a spectacular turquoise sea, and unrivaled ambiance.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about Mancora. How to get there, things to do, the closest beaches to enjoy, and all the features that have made Mancora the favorite bay to go on vacation, rest and party.
Mancora is probably one of the best travel destinations in Peru. It has warm beaches, sunshine all year, white sand, a spectacular turquoise sea, and unrivaled ambiance.
The collision of Humboldt’s oceanic current (cold, traveling from south to north) with El Niño current (hot, moving from north to south) have made Mancora’s waters the perfect combination to practice aquatic sports like surfing and kitesurfing. These currents ensure that the northern coast is much warmer than the Peruvian south coast.
Mancora is located in Talara Province, Piura Region, in the north of Peru. In summer the sea is bluish-green, while in winter it is turquoise. The coast is surrounded by sandy mountains and, in the east Tumbes Equatorial Dry Forest can be found.
If you want to get to the north from Lima, have some alternatives: get there driving a car, by bus or by plane. Here are the distances and times for each one:
These are the closest airports to Mancora, according to the distance:
The main difference between these airports (besides the distance from Mancora) is the flight frequency from Lima, which is crucial to choosing between the airline options available.
You have several options according to your budget:
The majority of the hotels will help you with your airport-Mancora journey, by recommending you a trustworthy taxi, or by picking you up at the airport as part of their service.
In Talara’s airport, you can take a cab to the EPPO company bus station in Av. Panamericana 243 or to El Dorado company buses in Av. Sánchez Cerro N° 1119..
Quick tip: if you want to save some cash, you can take your taxi outside of the airport to avoid paying the parking fee.
The ideal scenario is to pay for a safe taxi, recommended by your hotel. You can also move around in mototaxis, those little units of transportation drive you for S./1 or S./2 to the closest places.
A further recommendation is to change your currency inside the airport, or in authorized places, and use ATMs to get cash.
Almost all the touristic places accept VISA, MasterCard and AMEX but it is always a good idea to have cash and prevent any complications.
In Mancora it is sunny every day. The average temperature is 26° C up to 45° C in the summer. The temperature fluctuates with the seasons.
Rain alert: from December to April rainfall increases in Piura, especially in the highlands. Take note of this when you plan your trip.
Humboldt’s current -named after the famous German naturalist- brings the cold water from the deep ocean to the surface, serving all the Peruvian coast. This current moves from south to north.
Just before arriving at the equator, the current turns towards Galapagos Island and meets with the equatorial northern current called El Niño, which is warm with temperatures that reach 30 C°.
This “encounter” make the northern Peruvian waters warmer and an infinite source of world class waves for surfing. There are also many other beautiful and quiet beaches to go with children.
You can stay in Mancora to enjoy its beach, but you can also try different beaches in the Talara province. This brief guide will help you to know what to find in each one:
Peru is a global hotspot for surfing. Each year 150 thousand people come to Peru just to surf. Most of these people choose the north.
The Peruvian coast extends for almost 3 thousand kilometers and it’s home for high-quality waves. The Mancora’s “crecidas” (sea floods) are ideal to surf between October and March.
Here are some of the best beaches to surf in the North of Peru:
Despite the fact that in the north the water temperature is warmer than in the south, it’s recommended using 2/2 wetsuit for summer, and a 3/2 one for winter.
When it comes to the south Peruvian coast is better to use a 4/3 suite to explore their waves in the coldest months.
When it comes to things to do in Mancora the options are endless. Here are some of the favorite tourist activities for your beach vacation in the north of Peru.
Mancora is famous for being fun and wild. Is the favorite spot for Peruvians and tourists because of the excellent parties and a safe beach scene.
You can meet new people and enjoy all the fun of the beach with a classic “Mancoreña” nights. We recommend the party in these places:
In Mancora, the party continues in the streets, so it’s easy to find where to have fun.
Quick tip: for the next morning hangover, there is nothing better than coconut water or cocada.
There are many different types of accommodation to choose from in Mancora, and for almost every budget. Take into consideration that the cheapest options aren’t synonyms of “good service.”
If you don’t want to have a bad experience with your accommodation, it’s best to do some research to find out where to stay in Mancora.
Here are some good options:
Because it is a tourist place, the accommodation options are seemingly endless. From those along the seashore, to those in town; luxurious or simple, hotel boutique, resort or backpacking hostels, simply choose what kind suits you and your needs.
Quick tip: check the hotels’ online profiles, reviews, and scores. Most of them offer an American breakfast.
Be sure to ask if the hotel has air conditioning, private bathroom, wifi, and a view of the sea.
We recommend:
Address: Av. Playa El Amor 121, Máncora
Phone: +51 996206525
Website
Tripadvisor
Address: Av. Piura 262, Máncora
Phone: +51 73 258484
Website
Tripadvisor
Address: Playa Las Pocitas, Vichayito – Máncora.
Phone: +51 73 283800
Website
Tripadvisor
This is a perfect option if you’re traveling in a group. In Mancora there are a lot of homes available for temporary rent. These houses are located in front of the beach and have all the facilities you need for your vacation, including kitchen appliances and cookware.
The prices change depending on the property, but when you split the amount among a group it can be very affordable. Be sure to make the rental deal with someone trustworthy.
Some of the tourists have complained about the slow service in some places in Mancora.
The first thing you need to know is “cheap” rarely means “good.” However, you can easily find excellent service options according to your budget. Let the recommendations and reference online being your guide.
Usually, 10% of tips are not included. Also, you can tip according to the quality of service. Remember to support local tourist entrepreneurs who are doing a good job.
The food in the north of Peru shines for its fresh ingredients and terrific flavors. With such biodiversity from the sea in front, it couldn’t be any other way. Fish and seafood are the specialties you should definitely try.
Three hours from Mancora is Catacaos town. The place is famous for its national and internationally recognized artisan crafts. In fact, it has been named the Peruvian Craft Capital.
It is worth going there and buying some uniques pieces, particularly the leather or gold and silver filigree. This jewelry is well known for its quality and delicacy. You can also can buy wood pieces, hats and textiles as souvenirs.
An original souvenir is chifles from Piura. If you can’t carry with these fried plantains chips to your country, at least you can stock up for the rest of your trip. They are delicious!
Some telephone numbers you may need:
Local Government
Health & Hospital
Banks
ATMs
