The Northern Beaches are a collection of some of Peru’s top-rated beaches, with soft sand, crystalline water, and warm temperatures. Each beach offers something slightly different and appeals to different people, from surf destinations to party towns to relaxing paradises.
As the name suggests, the Northern Beaches span the Peruvian coast of the northern region across the Tumbes, Piura, La Libertad, Lambayeque, and Ancash Departments. The best way to get there is to fly from Lima to Piura or Tumbes, the two largest cities in the area.
Once in the area, the Pan-American Highway makes traveling between the beaches and towns a breeze, with constant buses passing by and the bus fares being reasonably cheap.
Their proximity to the coast means that the elevation of each beach is around 100 meters (328 ft) above sea level, which is a welcome reprieve after the soaring elevations of the Andes. The best time of year to visit is between November and March with temperatures ranging between 30°C and 40°C (86- 104°F).
However, due to water currents, the water temperatures vary between beaches from 18°C to 22°C (64°F- 72°F).
Mancora Beach
Máncora, Piura, is a lively beach town known for surfing, restaurants, and sunny days, easily accessed via the Pan-American Highway. Its three beaches offer:
Punta Sal Beach
Aquatic Sports
Whale Watching
Tuquillo, a hidden gem near Lima, is more than just a beach. It’s nestled within Huarmey’s cliffs, where the Andes dramatically meet the Pacific, creating sand dunes, caves, surreal rock formations, and lagoons along the coastline. It’s recognized for its cleanliness and conservation, winning the Eco-beach Prize (Premio Ecoplaya), evident in its pristine sands and crystal-clear waters.
Another family-friendly option is Las Pocitas, a tranquil beach near Mancora in the Piura region. It boasts palm-fringed white sands and aquamarine waters, with tidal pools for exploration during low tide, perfect for both kids and adults.
El Ñuro, a small beach town 3 hours from Piura, offers a unique experience. While slightly pricier, its pier allows visitors to feed and swim with friendly, curious large turtles.
An interesting phenomenon in the waters of Northern Peru is the meeting of the Humboldt and El Niño currents. The Humboldt comes up from the south, bringing cold water to Huanchacho beach, and El Niño brings warm water from the north to the beaches in Tumbes and Piura. Therefore, visitors should be aware that the ocean water south of these departments can be a little chilly.
Huanchaco, a bohemian town located in La Libertad, is also an interesting town that’s said to be the birthplace of Peruvian ceviche.
From Huanchaco, there’s an easy 15-minute bus ride to the “Chan Chan” ruins from the Chimu culture, a pre-Inca civilization that thrived during the 14th and 15th centuries until they were conquered by the Incas. These ruins are surprisingly intact with standing walls decorated with symbols from their fishing culture- fish, pelicans, and nets. The ruins are the biggest of their kind in South America and well worth a visit.
The Northern Beaches were not considered crucial locations during the Spanish conquest, but became more important as Peru became an key trading country in South America. In the 1920s, Pimentel became a prominent port town and railway terminal to transport and ship sugarcane.
Pimentel, along with nearby Huanchaco and Chiclayo, shows its fishing history by proudly using their traditional reed boats, caballitos de totora, while hauling in fish and red crabs. These boats made from woven reeds have been used since before the Spanish arrived, and silently coast over the waves like a surfboard.
Cabo Blanco also became a prominent international big-fish destination in the 1950s and 1960s when celebrities like Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne were attracted by the prize black marlins caught here. People still make the trip to the town in the hopes of getting lucky in the waters.
Another interesting aspect of this area is the part that it played in the nation’s developing oil industry. In Lobitos, the presence of abandoned oil rigs is obvious. In the late 19th century the area was exclusively owned by the British and turned into an oil settlement that Peruvians weren’t allowed to enter. The Peruvian government took exception to this and used the military to take possession of the beach in 1968, expelling the British from the area. Eventually, the Peruvian military also abandoned the site and left its Victorian buildings abandoned, military bases dismantled, and rusty oil refineries in disrepair. Today, the area has been turned into a sleepy town with exceptional waves that would delight any surfer.
Mancora offers more than just beaches. In the Fernandez River Valley, there are natural mud baths and hot springs for relaxation and treatments. Activities like horseback riding and motorbike trips are available.
For wildlife enthusiasts, the crocodile sanctuary in Puerto Pizarro, housing the Peruvian population of American crocodiles, is a unique experience.
Nature lovers can explore the Tumbes Mangroves, a vast wetland forest home to diverse flora and fauna, including crocodiles and various bird species.
History aficionados can visit the Túcume Pyramids, a 220-hectare site with 26 sun-dried brick pyramid structures from 1100 AD, featuring intriguing designs possibly influenced by Easter Island, hinting at Polynesian-South American contact and shared sweet potato cultivation.
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