Beaches in Peru
Even though Peru boasts about 1,800 miles of coastline, it really isn’t well known for its beaches. Neighboring Ecuador often gets the nod for the best beaches in South America. However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t find plenty of sand and a few places to hang out by the water while visiting Peru.
The best beach areas are located in the area north of Lima, especially in the departments of Tumbes and Piura, where you’ll find both places to swim and spots to partake of water sports, including surfing, SCUBA diving, windsurfing, and more. The best time to visit is, of course, during Peru’s hottest months, namely January through March, when the water is the warmest. Surfing season starts in about December and continues through March as well. Check out the local surfer’s report if you wish to hop on your board and ride a few waves.
Punta Sal
This is undoubtedly the most popular beach in the country. It is located about 80 km from Tumbes and due to its location enjoys abundant sunshine almost all year long and temperatures on an average of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The beach is long, with plenty of sand, and the waters are the warmest in the country and quite calm as well, making this the ideal beach stop for families with children.
Accommodations include a variety of offerings from budget priced to quite costly. Among the most beautiful is the Punta Sal Club Hotel, which is directly on the beach and has a marvelous pool, a fine restaurant, a game area, a sports zone, and more. The concierge can help set up horseback riding jaunts, deep sea fishing excursions, yacht trips, and more.
Mancora
Not far from Punta Sal, Mancora is especially popular with tourists and has a large selection of accommodations. Swimming, surfing, diving, kite-surfing, fishing, horseback riding, and cycling can all be enjoyed in this picturesque beach town that boasts abundant sunshine.
Restaurants are quite varied and there are clubs and bars for some nighttime fun as well. Those who are interested in doing a little shopping while in Mancora will enjoy browsing the many small shops located in this seaside town, offering handicrafts designed and created by local artisans as well as many other items.
Cabo Blanco
It is believed that Cabo Blanco, an excellent deep sea fishing location, is the place that inspired Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” and is the spot where the author once caught a 700-lb. marlin.
This is also the favored location for surfers looking for that proverbial “big wave”. Cabo Blanco does indeed draw surfers from around the world to its waters. The wave quality is world-class, and the waves are hollow, fast, and powerful, prompting experts to recommend that surfers wear a helmet while practicing their sport here, partly due to the abundance of rocks and reefs under the water.
The town itself is a small fishing village that offers limited amenities to those who are visiting the area to fish or surf.
Zorritos
Now a favorite with older teens and young adults, Zorritos was once a town for oil industry magnates. It boasts fairly calm waters and the town itself is full of small lodging establishments that are priced right for the younger crowd. You’ll also find an abundance of small but good restaurants there. Zorritos, however, tends not to be a family destination as there are quite a few bars and clubs that cater to the younger set and things can get a bit raucous at times.
If high temperatures are a deterrent for you, you’ll
probably want to avoid Zorritos, especially from January through March. This
is the Peruvian beach that is closest to the Equator, so it’s not unusual
for summertime temperatures to soar well above 100 degrees during the
daytime and well into the night.
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