Mancora Beach in Peru has a reputation for being a crazy party place by night with little to do during the day, but that’s not entirely true.

There are many things to do in Mancora if you are hungover or not! Surfing, whale watching, swimming with turtles, you name it. Here is our guide to all the things to do in Mancora, our off-the-beaten-path gem of Peru, that we recommend to all wildlife lovers.

Despite all the awesome activities available, Mancora remains one of the lesser-visited places in Peru. Probably because of its location on the far north coast of Peru, about 2-night buses from the capital Lima. Mancora is an off-the-beaten-path town that tourists tend to forget by sticking to the South-East of the country. It is, however, a great place to stop before or after crossing the Ecuadorian border.

In fact, if you love partying, Mancora and the few “party hostels” built along the beach are the place to be in Peru. If you are not the type of person who likes to get drunk every night, Mancora is still a place where you can spend time, chill out and look for incredible wildlife.

How to get to Mancora?

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From Lima

To get to Mancora from Lima, you will need to get to the bus company of your choice as there are no general bus terminals. In Peru, you can use the REDBUS website to find out about the bus routes, the companies, prices and timetable. The information is accurate and you can also buy your tickets online.

>> Tip: You might need to stop in Trujillo and change bus (or stay a day or two in Huanchaco), to cut this really long journey. It took us two-night buses to complete this route.

From Ecuador

To get to Mancora from Ecuador, you must take a long-distance bus from Guayaquil. You will need to buy your ticket at the main bus terminal. There are day and night buses.

Leaving Mancora

There are buses leaving the town around 11 am and midnight from Mancora to Guayaquil in Ecuador. We chose the night bus to save some time but be aware you will cross the border around 2 am and that it can be very long! From Guayaquil, you can hop on any bus to Cuenca, Baños, Montañita or Quito.

There are a few long-distance buses stopping in the centre of Mancora, to Lima in Peru. You can buy your tickets on the main street, directly at the bus offices. CIVA, Ittsa and Tespa are the main companies but there are buses passing by all day. However, you can’t just flag them as they are often fully booked.

We would recommend checking out these bus agencies and buying your bus tickets at least a day before leaving Mancora.

Where to Stay in Mancora?

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There are a lot of choices in terms of accommodation in Mancora, from luxury houses to budget beach hostels. We chose to stay away from the party hostels as we knew they were packed and loud every night. However, being on a budget and wanting to do some work online, we had to find a quiet place with plugs and a good internet connection… Well, we didn’t find that in Mancora. We did in Huanchaco, but not in Mancora.

We ended up in a Hostel on the beach, with saltwater showers, and bungalow dorm rooms, but with nowhere to plug our computers and work. It was fine, it gave us the opportunity to unplug and chill.

We would definitely recommend Hostel Misfit if you are looking to unwind, drink beer around a fire pit, practice your slackline skills and chill in hammocks. It is cheap, a 20-minute walk to town along the beach or a quick tuk-tuk ride. The beds were comfortable and the view over the Pacific Ocean was astonishing.

For the party people out there, head to Loki Del Mar, which is right in the centre of town, or for a bit of escape, to The Point.

Surf all year-long

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The Peruvian coast is one of the best places in South America to learn how to improve your surfing skills. In the north, surfing is almost a religion for locals who come from all around the country to catch a wave. With nearly 25 surrounding shark-free beaches offering an ideal swell direction and perfect wind conditions during both summer and winter seasons, the little Bohemian town is for sure the best spot to settle down and hop on board.

While the town’s beach will most likely content beginners, the most experienced surfers will head to Lobitos, Tumbes, Cabo Blanco or Piura where they will find very little in the way of crowds and up to 3m long and tubular waves!

The beginners will rent a board directly from Mancora Beach and will enjoy the small rolls to learn how to stand. Just make sure the tides are high to avoid any injury on the rocky seafloor. Rentals at the beach cost around 10 to 20 soles per hour depending on the place you rent it from. You can also try Paddleboarding in the morning or at sunset.

ARE YOU GOING SOUTH? NEXT STOP: HUANCHACO!

Take kite-surfing Lessons

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The sandy beaches of Mancora and Los Organos stretch for kilometres with strong and consistent wind and reasonably warm waters. For these reasons, Kite-surfing, a new activity in the area, is literally exploding with the opening of schools and specialised lodging.

The best conditions are from April to December with August having the greatest conditions.

Go Whale Watching in Los Organos

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From July to October, Humpback Whales reach the coast of Peru after a long journey from the cold waters of Antarctica. They stay in the area during the austral winter to give birth or to mate before heading back south to feed. During their time in the Peruvian sea, the humpback whales are very active, which gives tourists the opportunity to see them and if you’re lucky you can even spot them breaching.

While the whales may be seen from the shore on rare occasions, it is recommended to hop on a boat to get closer to these giant sea animals. There are a few companies in Mancora and Los Organos offering day tours for €30.

Swim with Green Turtles

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Only a few kilometres from Mancora Beach, Green Turtles can be spotted all year long. Most whale-watching tours will include swimming with turtles in their excursions, but if it isn’t part of your tour, you can still do it yourself as long as you have a snorkel and mask.

For a better chance to find the turtles, take a bus to either Los Organos or El Ñuro (you will need your passport to buy a bus ticket). The Green Turtles usually hang out around the pier (“muelle” in Spanish) with the Pelicans, eating the fish the fishermen discard in the sea. Peruvian and international tourists often swim from the shore to approach the turtles.

The Green Turtle is an endangered species. Be considerate and avoid touching them or staying too long near them. If the turtle swims away from you, let it go and don’t chase it. An overdeveloped tourism industry can be stressful for the turtles and the results are thought to effect their yearly hatchlings. Stressed turtles are less likey to return to the area to mate or lay their eggs.

ARE YOU GOING NORTH? NEXT STOP: ECUADOR!

Try the local Ceviche & Leche de Tigre

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We talked about it already in our article about Huanchaco, but let’s put it this way: we will never talk enough about CE-VI-CHE! We love Ceviche and so do the locals. This national dish made of fresh, raw, fish marinated in lemon, garlic, coriander, tomatoes and onions is mind-blowing. And believe it or not, we found the BEST place to eat a real, local and freshly made Ceviche.

To eat a good Ceviche, take the bus to Los Organos and walk to the fishing pier. On the left of the carpark, you will find a couple of shacks where old women make ceviche right in front of you. It costs 5 soles for a well-served plate with large grilled corn and yucca (cassava) puree on the side. Chances are you will be the only gringos there!

To try Leche de Tigre, a similar version of ceviche, but served in a plastic glass (great for a takeaway snack), head towards Mancora’s market. Along the main avenue, you should find a few trolleys serving ceviche and Leche de Tigre. We recommend you taste it. Be careful, it can be spicy!

fun activitY in Peru Try SandboArding and Buddy Riding in Huacachina

Grab a drink and watch the sunset at the beach

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As the town gets back to life after a hot afternoon, most people head to the beach to enjoy the last rays of the sun turning the sky into incredible colours.

While some prefer riding horses along the beach, others play football or have a drink at the local bar, feet in the sand. However, the beach in Mancora is long enough for anyone to get away from the loud music played by the bars and find a quieter spot to enjoy the view in peace! We mostly chose to sit down with our favourite beverage in front of our hostel, which was about 1 km from the centre of town, with a couple of lovely stray dogs as companions.

In any case, whatever you decide, make sure to bring repellent as the mosquitoes and midges are vicious at this moment of the day!

Taste Lobster and Fresh Grilled Fish

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At night, most of the restaurants in Mancora bring barbecues into the streets to grill fish, lobster, prawns and octopus. Some of them display what they have on offer besides the BBQ and you can just choose the fish or lobster you prefer. We thought that was really a good idea but be careful, it can really be a tourist trap with high prices and low-quality food.

We went to two restaurants. One very disappointing and one with such a good value that we went twice! Make sure to choose your restaurant wisely. The crowd isn’t always a reference. We were actually the only ones at our favourite restaurant because they were a bit away from the main street and the owners don’t shout or run to anyone passing by! The best part was they marinated our fish in a very strange but delicious sauce made of Coca-Cola and beer!

Unfortunately, we can’t remember the name and can’t see it on google street map. We only know it is along the beach, on the left of the restaurant “Mar y Luna”.

Is Mancora Safe?

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With the boom of the nightlife and the strong presence of drugs, pickpockets and robberies have drastically increased in the past few years in Mancora. The targets? Drunk tourists at night. It is not uncommon to hear stories about young backpackers getting mugged in the streets of Mancora or along the beach. So if you plan on going out when it’s dark, don’t take any valuables with you and bring just enough money for a few drinks. For those staying in a party hostel, better to stick to it, the party is there anyway!

We have touched on this subject a couple of times in our articles, but safety is actually one of the main topics among tourists in South and Central America. Because of a bad reputation coming from political instability and old civil rebellions, travellers still think the continent is dangerous. Well, as far as we are concerned, we don’t find Peru, Bolivia or any other country we have visited during our 16 months travel, dangerous. No more than Paris or Barcelona. There are drugs, gangs, and guns. There are also carefree travellers not aware of the dangers of hanging around drunk or showing off valuables.

In South America, like anywhere else, you need to be conscious of the scams and that it is often a matter of giving an opportunity. So to stay safe in Mancora, in Peru and in general during your travels, be aware of your surroundings, always keep an eye on your belongings and don’t be stupid 🙂

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