Peru is more than just Machu Picchu and beautiful pastel towns. There’s a coastline just waiting to be explored on the country’s western edge. Whether you want to swim, snorkel, surf, see marine life or just bury your toes in the sand, Peruvian beaches have something for every type of adventurer.
1. Piura Máncora Beach
Best known for: Surfing and nightlife
With a long stretch of silky sand in one of the sunniest corners of Peru, it’s easy to see why Mancora is one of Peru’s most popular beach destinations. Máncora’s shores are dotted with late-night driftwood bars and ceviche joints, making it a lively stop for those looking for some fun in the sun. It’s also home to some of the best surfing in Peru, especially if you’re a newbie, so it’s the perfect place to learn how to hang a ten point. It’s also quite windy for kitesurfers!
join in The Great South America Tour: Quito to Rio Adventure You’ll spend a few days in Mancora with other like-minded young travelers. 65 days, 7 countries, and three nights in the Amazon is an adventure you’ll never forget.
2. Punta Sal Beach, Tumbes
Best known for: Relaxing, swimming and whale watching
Every year between June and October, Peru’s north coast becomes a hotspot for humpback whales. Punta Sal is located at the northern end of the Tumba region and is one of the best places to see the Splash Giant. Below the surface you’ll find an underwater world filled with barracuda, tuna and other species popular with anglers.
Quite simply, it’s also a very nice beach. With one of the longest coastlines in the world, you won’t have a hard time finding a place to leave your beach towel. The warm, calm equatorial waters make it the perfect place for swimming and submerging legs sore from hiking.
3. Punta Hermosa Beach, Lima
Best known for: Surfing and seafood
Just over an hour’s drive south of Lima, Punta Hermosa is a traditional beach town with lively bars, good surf and excellent fish restaurants. Watch surfers in action from the safety of a sun lounger, or find a surf school and live your best life in the water. There’s also a nice walk from one end of town to the other, along windswept beaches and sandy beaches. Oh, and there’s a reggae festival every summer!
If you have a free day, our Day Trip from Lima: Highlights and Insider Tour (Full Day) Giving you a unique insight into the capital’s cultural and gastronomic highlights. From the skeletal cathedral to the bohemian Barranco’s boutiques, it’ll have you spending a few days on the coast.
4. Huanchaco Beach, Trujillo
Best known for: Traditional fishing and day trips
Between Lima and Mancora lies the stunning Huanchaco Beach, another popular beach with surfing and ceviche lovers. In fact, locals claim Huanchaco is the birthplace of the world’s first surfboard, and fishermen still use their traditional reed boards, or “horses,” to this day. You can watch this 3,000-year-old tradition, or take a bus to Chan Chan to visit the labyrinthine ruins of Chimú, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America.
The Great South America Tour: Quito to Rio Adventure Includes a few days in Trujillo, taking you to Huanchaco and Chan Chan. You’ll also visit Mancora, Lima and Nazca, where you have the option of visiting the Ballestas Islands, home to stunning beaches and a vibrant sea lion colony.
5. Icaparacas
Best known for: The rugged wilderness of the national park
Just a short drive from the beach town of Paracas, the remote beaches of Paracas National Reserve are a haven for wildlife. Sea lions inhabit the red sand beaches, dolphins frolic in the warm waters, and birds such as cormorants and pelicans often circle the crumbling cliffs. The rich resources of this coastal desert make Paracas a must-visit for nature lovers.
Barro Vento Beach is one of the most remote beaches in the park and is not suitable for swimming or surfing. Wild waters are home to schools of bass, making them a favorite among fishermen.
our Definitely Peru The journey takes you on a 21-day round trip from Lima via Paracas, with the option to sail to the Ballestas Islands, a diverse heritage site home to more than 160 species of mammals and seabirds.
6. Soritos Beach, Tumbes
Best known for: Perfect climate and white sand beaches
Sometimes simple is best. Located near the Ecuadorian border, Zoritos is the epitome of tropical beaches. The white sandy beach and warm waters make it the perfect place to take a bath with your feet up. The climate here is excellent all year round, hovering around 26°C. If you want to heat up a bit, head to the nearby Hevidros Hot Springs and soak yourself in the thermal pools. Steaming hot!
7. Ancon Beach, Lima
Best known for: Food and local atmosphere
Ancón, located north of the capital, is a popular beach resort loved by Lima locals. It still has a thriving fishing community and there’s never a shortage of delicious ceviche and seafood restaurants. The biggest draw here is that it feels like you’re on vacation in Peru with Peruvians, and yet it’s only an hour’s drive from Lima.
If you have time in Lima and want to visit the best attractions, check out our Day Trip from Lima: Highlights and Insider Tour (Full Day). This half-day walking tour of Lima’s historic center immerses you in local culture and prepares you for small talk with local day-trippers from Ancon.
8. Playa los Órganos, Piura
Best known for: Sunsets and swimming with sea turtles
South of Mancora is a quiet beach called Los Órganos. It’s so sparsely populated and unspoilt that it’s hard to believe you’re only 20 minutes away from one of Peru’s liveliest beach towns. Still, there’s plenty to do in this sleepy fishing village. You can surf, snorkel, and swim with sea turtles. Or just enjoy the quiet – Organos has some of the most beautiful sunsets in South America.
One beach stretch to the south and you’ll find El Ñuro. Turtles from the Galapagos Islands can often be seen swimming around the pier. Arrive early to get shells!
9. Church of Santa Maria del Mar, Lima
Best known for: Scuba diving
Santa Maria del Mar is just an hour’s drive from Peru’s capital and has an abundance of dive sites for divers of all levels. Located off the coast of Embajadores, El Muelle is a wreck accessible through an abandoned pier. Dive into the deep blue waters and see if you can spot the elusive frogfish – a master of mimicry and camouflage. For more underwater fun, head south to Pucusana Beach. The kelp forests here are home to moray eels, sea lions and a variety of slippery marine life. The rock bottom has never looked so good.
If you want to stay active during the holidays, our Peruvian multisport Traveling makes your heart beat faster. Hike ancient wonders, mountain bike through local hamlets, and kayak on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It’s the perfect marriage of sport and culture.
10. Lobitos Beach, Piura
Most famous event: Surfing
Are you a skateboard history buff? Look no further for the perfect getaway – Lobitos is located on the westernmost tip of South America. Once home to an old BP company, you’ll find abandoned Victorian buildings and rusty military barracks, all set against a backdrop of 8-foot waves. Whether you’re a professional or just getting started, Lobitos has what you need.
If you never tire of skateboarding, whether it’s sea, snow or sand, then Peruvian Coast: Seafood, Sandboarding and Dune Buggy It’s for you. For those new to skateboarding, sandboarding is quicker to pick up than surfing, and falls aren’t as painful!
These are the ten best beaches in Peru. Whether you prefer surfboards or sun loungers, whatever your beach personality, there’s a place on the Peruvian coast waiting to put your stamp on it. Happy beach!
