Recommended Peru Beach Vacation Destinations: Mancora and Las Pocitas

Two of the best beaches in Peru are Mancora and Las Pocitas, located on the northern coast where the sand is fine and white, the skies are sunny, and the water is warm year round. Much of coastal Peru gets hit with the cold Humboldt Current responsible for the frigid water at most beaches. Luckily for beach lovers however, the northern coast also gets the warmer currents that circulate along the equator. This blending of currents creates not only a near perfect water temperature, but also a rich diversity of sea life which is reflected in the cuisine.

In addition to the idyllic water temperature and fine sand, the coast is dry and sunny, but has a refreshing breeze that keeps travelers cool while they sunbathe or exercise on the beach. This light wind also means that sports enthusiasts can do any number of activities like kite surfing, sailing, and wind surfing. People travel from all over South America and other continents to laze on the sand and play in the water throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the winter months. There's nothing like escaping from harsh cold and holiday mayhem to frolic on a beach instead. In fact, combining a Peru beach vacation with New Years Eve in Cusco and a trip to Machu Picchu is about as ideal as you can get.

Even though northern Peru is located near the equator, almost the entire coast is desert which means if you are looking for lush, rainforest scenery you will have to look elsewhere.

Here are my top picks for the best two beaches in Peru whether you are looking for fun, romance, or the perfect family vacation.

Mancora has the best nightlife in the area with plenty of restaurants, bars, and weekend parties that attract a surfer's crowd for much of the year. If you are looking to meet friends, tear it up on your surfboard, try kite-surfing, and have a community of travelers around you, staying right in Mancora is the best choice.

Budget Hostels: Loki and The Point
Catering to a fun-loving, youthful crowd, both of these new hostels have swimming pools, restaurants, and bars on site with rooms ranging from dorms to matrimonials.

Mid-Range: Casa Blanca Hotel
For 20 soles per person per night you get a comfortable bed, private bathroom with hot water, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridge, and kitchen access.

Family Friendly: Mancora Marina Hotel (MMH)
MMH is located right at the beginning of the road to Las Pocitas and has a huge infinity pool with an ample shallow end for the kids, a lovely stretch of tranquil beach, a large patio, connecting rooms, and an unforgettable gourmet seafood restaurant.

Las Pocitas Beach is only a few minutes south of Mancora and is generally considered part of the same destination. What a world of difference a ten minute moto-taxi ride will give you. Las Pocitas is more exclusive, private, and luxurious. The beach has natural rock formations that create tranquil swimming pools that are perfect for swimming, and a lovely stretch of pure white sand. The atmosphere in general is calmer and more relaxing than nearby Mancora, but only a short mototaxi ride from the restaurants and nightlife.

Luxury Romance: DCO Suite Lounge and Spa
This swanky hotel right on the beach in Las Pocitas has only 7 guest rooms featuring DVD players, IPod docks, and Wi-Fi. The hotel has a gourmet restaurant, swimming pool, and excellent full-service spa with specially designed massages and treatments for two. Catering to couples, this is the best hotel for a luxurious honeymoon and is rated as the top hotel in the area by tripadvisor members.

The closest airports to Mancora are in Piura and Tumbes, which are both between a two and three hour drive away. Alternatively, overnight direct buses are available from Lima and Guayaquil. The Cruz del Sur bus station is right in downtown Mancora, and from here you can take a 1 sol mototaxi ride to town, or a 3 soles ride to Las Pocitas.

Your swimsuit, sun block, flip flops, beach hat, sunglasses, water bottle, beach blanket, a nice outfit for hitting the town, and a light jacket or sweater.

Don´t use any ATM machine that is not attached to a bank. One of these machines ate my card and the company wouldn´t help me retrieve it, and another didn´t give me the money I requested, but deducted the amount from my account anyway. This was the only blemish on my otherwise perfect Peru vacation.

If you want to combine a beach vacation with a Peru archeology tour, there are numerous ruins nearby which you can visit from Trujillo and Chiclayo.