Mancora: Peru's Best-Kept Beach-Town

Arriving in Mancora is like arriving at the paradise, a non stop stunning weather (tropical sunny days almost always) sand, sea, surf, desert. Everything is quite perfect and having a few days here it's an amazing experience.

Mancora has quickly become a thriving destination for surfers and hippie-style backpackers, the water is warmer than the rest of Peru, and the beaches are soft an for that reason Mancora has become very busy, the beaches often crowded and hassled, and the party non-stop. However, many people like me, fall for the beauty of Mancora, and it remains a worthy stop in Northern Peru.

“Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature's simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard.” Psyche Roxas Mendoza

Mancora is a small village situated near the border from Peru - Ecuador. When we arrived it was really early around 5 hours using the bus from Guayaquil to Mancora. At this time we didn't know where to stay and it was still really dark so we rented a ''MotoTaxi'' and asked the driver to take us to a hostel near the area. We were then dropped at a really cheap hostel that was more or less around 10 or5 dollars (simple bed, bathroom, and a tv) we could also use the swimming pool) but with the sea nearby we just wanted to go there and enjoy it.

Thinking about visiting Peru’s northern coastline? Keep reading our Mancora travel guide tips and a list of things to see and do.

Top Things to do in Mancora

Mancora is ideal for getting tanned, the weather is constantly warm and sunny so if you don't want to look like a red chicken then make sure to bring a good sun cream to protect your fragile skin, wear easy clothes and comfortable to keep you fresh while being there. It's really warm.

When writing a post about this place without mentioning the surfing I knew that was going to be a terrible mistake, Mancora is one of the best places to practice the #HawaiianTable and #KiteSurf. So if you're into surfing, you will love this place. 

Water temperatures are warm and waves are good for beginners too. But I was extremely shocked because the waves can be really huge. (picture below). There are of course a bunch of course to pick from, however I didn't take any course.

Among the other things to do;. #Horseback riding is only 30 soles an hour (10 dollars) along the beach. You will really walk along the beach. #Waterbike rides. 50-90 dollars an hour advertisements are everywhere. Rides in #Quadbikes or normal motorcycles. 50 soles-120 soles. Depending on the power of the machine.

Bars: all the Mancora is surrounded by fun nightlife places. People take anywhere. Example #RedBaron is a good one.

NightLife: Enjoy the eternal northern party under the light of the moon. There are many places to enjoy a good party here. Must do the full moon party at The Point Hostel, and an icon in the night scene of the place. Now if you're a partygoer without stopping and nothing stops you, move on later to the Bar Iguana in the center of the city, you will not have regrets. In addition to this, you will always have the continuous Pool parties organized by the classic Loki hostels and Kokopelli. Now, enjoy some shots of the place itself.

Food: All the 'Malecón' is surrounded by restaurants and #Cevicherias so don't forget to try one of those, you'll love it. There are a lot of cheap restaurants near the beach selling ceviche and other dishes.

Sunsets: The beachfront section of town comes alive during the late afternoon hours and it’s an awesome place to watch the sunset.

It wouldn’t be a good Mancora travel guide without mentioning a visit to the lighthouse above town. We walked up and felt safe enough, but it was very quiet and it did seem a little rough.

Hope you enjoyed this article. Let me know your thoughts on the comment section below or check out more about Peru here for a more detailed pictures of information about things to see and do.

Best Regards,

Jaime S