Mancora, located in the North of Peru, is a small coastal town known for its beaches, warm weather, surfing spots, and relaxed vibe. Take a look at the best things to do in Mancora below!
Are you planning a trip to Mancora?
Check out some of the best accomodation options Mancora.
Best hotels in/near the center of Mancora:
Great options if you want to be near the town.
1. Selina Mancora (Mid-range. Good for meeting people)
2. Bungalows Playa El Amor – Gabriel (Mid-range. Quiet place. I’ve stayed here and loved it.)
3. Loki del Mar (Mid-range. Great for partying)
3. Blue Ocean (Budget)
Best hotels further away from the center:
Ideal if you are looking for a quiet spot to relax.
1. Adobe Villas (High-end)
2. Amai Luna (Mid-range)
3. Kimbas Bungalows Mancora (Budget)
Airport transfers:
1. Private transfer from Talara airport to Mancora
2. Private transfer from Tumbes airport to Mancora
Mancora is considered the best beach destination in Peru. I’ve been several times, and as a Peruvian living in Peru, it’s one of my favorite places to travel in Peru when I’m looking for relaxation.
Let’s take a look at the best things to do in Mancora and how to get from Lima to Mancora.
1. Hit the beach
Of course, the beaches are the main attraction in Mancora. They are big and the weather is nice, making it a great spot to just relax under the sun.
Sometimes you can see humpback whales from the beach. I have also been able to spot a group of dolphins swimming along the coast.
Still, don’t expect Caribbean-like waters. The sea is much warmer than in Lima, but it’s still not that warm.
Depends on what area you are staying, the beach will be different. If you are staying right at Mancora town, the beaches will be more crowded. This is the area where the backpacker hostels are located.
For a more quiet experience, visit Las Pocitas Beach, which is walking distance to Mancora. Otherwise, you could stay at Vichayito Beach, a 15-20 minute drive away (and easy to get to by tuk tuk). This is the area were the nice and bigger hotels are located.
2. Surf
In Mancora, entering the world of surfing doesn’t require prior knowledge or having your own board.
If you are a beginner, you will find enough surf schools or private instructors who can guide you in your first steps on the board for an affordable price. You can also purchase or rent a board and all the necessary accessories, like fins, leashes, wetsuits, etc. at local stores in Mancora. With these items, you can hit the water with the appearance of a world champion, even if you’re still learning to stand on the board.
The waves at Mancora beach are great for novice and intermediate level surfers. The sea is not-so-aggressive, and the swell is all year round.
If you are an advanced surfer, consider visiting Cabo Blanco town, 50 minutes away from Mancora. This is a legendary and very popular spot amongst the most experienced surfers. At Cabo Blanco beach you will find a great challenge you with its 3-meter (~10 feet) high waves. The swell is from October to April.
At Mancora you will also find places to rent equipment for kitesurfing and for taking classes.
3. Whale Watching at Los Organos
For a unique experience, head to Los Organos, just a 20-minute drive from Mancora. This is the area where you can for a whale watching tour. Humpback whales migrate through the area from July to October, making it possible to spot them breaching.
I have taken this tour once, it was September, and we were able to spot two whales during the morning. The tour also takes you to an area from where you can see big sea turtles. Even though I get easy dizzy on boats, I didn’t have a problem during the tour. It was a great experience!
Book a whale watching trip with one of the boat tour companies to search for these majestic creatures.
4. Swim with Green Turtles
This unique experience is one of the best things to do in Mancora. To be able to experience swimming with Green Turtles, visit El Ñuro, another small coastal town a 30-minute drive from Mancora. Green Turtles are one of the seven sea turtle species in the world (and one of the five ones you can find in Peru).
At El Ñuro, the turtles come close to the dock and have made the town their home after the community started a protection project. Swimming with these magnificent creatures is a great experience, but make sure not to touch the shells of the turtles, as it’s harmful for their health.
If you are nervous about swimming with turtles you can just admire them from the dock, as they come super close.
The tours will pick you up from your hotel in Mancora and will take you to El Ñuro for this experience.
5. Visit the Tumbes Mangroves
Nature lovers shouldn’t miss a visit to Los Manglares (The Mangroves) National Sanctuary in Tumbes. The sanctuary is home to an abundant and diverse collection of mangrove forests, which provide a vital habitat for numerous species of plants and animals.
Visitors to the sanctuary can take boat tours or kayak excursions through the mangroves and to nearby islands.
This is visit will be interesting for everyone, but you will love it if you like nature and especifially if you are into birdwatching. At the mangroves, you will ve able to observe a diverse range of bird species, including pelicans, herons, and spoonbills.
Actually, you can see up to 150 bird species in the area, and 19 of them are unique to this area. The tour also includes a visit to a crocodile breeding center, where they breed an endagered species.
The mangroves are not so near Mancora (around 2 and a half hours each way), so this is offered as a whole day tour. If you enjoy nature and wildlife, this is one of the best things to do around Mancora. Make sure to bring enough mosquito repellent with you!
You can book a tour to the Tumbes Mangroves here.
6. Go scuba diving
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, there are good scuba diving opportunities for you. Spondylus DC, a PADI diving center, offers different kinds of courses, like Scuba diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced OWD, and more.
As a beginner, you will first train at a swimming pool before hading to open waters. If you are already certified you can also join some of their trips to discover new diving areas.
At your diving trip, you might be able to see sea lions, schools of fish, octopus, corals and more.
7. Enjoy the nightlife
Mancora is a great place if you are looking for nightlife. Many bars and clubs offer live music or DJs, so you can dance or relax with a cocktail on the beach.
If you are looking to party, you should stay in the town of Mancora itself.
The best places to stay to experience the nightlife at the beach are one of the popular backpackers hostels, such as Loki. Another very good option could be Selina Hotel.
Where to stay in Mancora
Where to stay in Mancora will depend on what kind of experience you are looking for:
Best hotels near the center of Mancora:
The center of Mancora is the best place if you want to either stay in a hostel and meet other people, or to be close to the town to have more dining options. It’s also the best place if you are looking for affordable accommodation.
Selina Mancora (mid-range)
Even though their rooms are simple, this big hotel is a very popular place among travelers. It’s not right at the center of Mancora, but it’s just a 20-minute walk away. Still, since they offer a lot of activities and it’s a great place to meet people, you might not need to go to the center that often.
You can book a room at Selina Mancora here.
Bungalows Playa El Amor – Gabriel (mid-range)
In my last trip to Mancora I stayed here and I had a great experience. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax and a beach that is almost for just yourself.
The bungalows are very spacious and they have floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offer a beautiful view of the sea. They are equipped with a good kitchen and a comfortable bathroom. The owner, who lives on-site, is a friendly and helpful man.
It’s just a short 3-minute walk to the road, where you can easily catch a tuktuk to the center or take a leisurely stroll. There’s also a restaurant at a nearby hostel that serves tasty daily menus (also vegetarian).
You can book Bungalows Playa El Amor – Gabriel here (minimum 3 nights).
Loki del Mar
Big hotel in front of the beach. The rooms are simple and not perfectly well-kept, but it has a nice swimming pool and a great party vibe.
You can book a room at Loki del Mar here.
Blue Ocean (Budget)
Simple rooms with a small terrace. Swimming pool. Centrally located in the center of Mancora, in front of the sea. Quiet place.
You can book a room at Blue Ocean here.
Best hotels further away from the center of Mancora:
This is the best area if you are looking for bigger and less crowded beaches. There are no restaurants around, so you will have to rely on the restaurant of your own or nearby hotels.
Adobe Villas (High-end)
Nice rooms with a terrace and sea views. Swimming pool. Located at Las Pocitas beach, within walking distance from Mancora but still in a quiet area. This beach is nicer than the one in Mancora.
You can book a room at Adobe Villas here.
Amai Luna (Mid-range)
They have very nice and spacious rooms, nice views of the beach and a swimming pool. Also located at Las Pocitas beach.
You can book a room at Amai Luna here.
Kimbas Bungalows Mancora (Budget)
Simple but well-kept rooms and a swimming pool. The hotel is not right at the beach but just a few minutes walking distance.
You can book a room at Kimbas Bungalows Mancora here.
How to get to get Mancora from Lima, Peru
Once you are in Peru, from Lima, the most common way to get to Mancora is by plane, since the bus ride takes around 17 hours.
Make sure to buy your flight tickets very much in advance, especially in the summer (December-March), otherwise you will only find very expensive tickets.
There are four different airports that people fly to get to Mancora. These are the Talara, Tumbes, Piura and Mancora airports.
Since I’ve been many times to Mancora, I’ve traveled there in almost every possible way. I have taken flights to the different airports, I’ve gone by bus and I’ve stopped by when doing road trips. In my experience, the best option is to fly to Talara.
- Getting from Talara to Mancora: Getting from Talara airport to Mancora takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Taking a taxi to the bus terminal and then a bus to Mancora will be the cheaper option, but it will also take longer. The best way is to book private transportation from Talara airport to Mancora, which leaves you at your hotel.
- Getting from Tumbes to Mancora: The journey from Tumbes airport to Mancora is around 2 hours and 10 minutes. The cheapest way is to take a taxi to the “paradero de colectivos” (“colectivo” or vans stop), and from there take a van to Mancora. The best way is to book private transportation from Tumbes airport to Mancora, which will leave you at your hotel.
- Getting from Piura to Mancora: Getting from Piura to Mancora requires a bus journey that takes approximately 3 hours
- Flying to the Mancora airport: This is a very small aerodrome, so only one carrier flies there (ATSA) and only twice a week. Also, the planes are small, so some people will not feel so comfortable. The good thing is that is just 5 minutes away from Mancora.
When to visit Mancora
Mancora weather is warm all year round. It’s a little bit hotter during the summer months (January to March). During winter (June to September), the weather is warm as well, though there is some wind.
Is Mancora worth it?
As a Peruvian that lives and has traveled a lot in Peru and been several times to Mancora, I can say yes, it is worth it. Mancora is a great place to enjoy the sun and rest, and there are enough things to do if you are looking for some unique activities.
If you are a tourist though, and it’s your first time in Peru and you have limited time, other cities, like Cusco and Arequipa, should be your priority.
But if you have enough time and are looking for a place to relax, this is a great spot to end your trip. Also, if you are coming overland from Ecuador, I would also suggest you to stop in Máncora.
If you want to take a look at other less popular destinations in Peru, read more here about more off-the-beaten-path Peru destinations.
