The Best Beaches in Peru

Due to the entire west of the country bordering the Pacific Ocean, Peru is a country which has a lot of beach space. The Peruvian coastline stretches all the way from the Ecuadorian border up in the north, to the Chilean border, 2400+ km in the South.

On the northern shores, there is a tropical dry climate and a subtropical desert climate with little rainfall on the central and southern coast. There are two currents which influence the water along the coast of Peru known as Humboldt (a cold current) and El Niño (a warm current). Combined, these currents are the cause of the variety of wildlife you will find here in Peru. These currents also affect the climate as well as the Ocean’s temperature. If you’re looking for warmer, more Mediterranean-style waters, then it is best to head up towards the north.

Along the coast of Peru, you go from the largest body of water on Earth – The Pacific Ocean – to the extreme opposite of dry desert coastline. Many cities are located along this desert strip of coast with over 50% of the population living along the Ocean. In Peru, the Pacific ocean plays a big role in locals daily lives, ranging from the surf culture you will find to the notoriously famous seafood dishes.

Punta Sal Beach

The Best Beaches in Peru

With over 2,400 kilometres worth of beaches to choose from, there certainly isn’t a shortage of options. The beaches in Peru range from turquoise waters with soft sands to ones with vertical cliffs and dramatic waves. Below, we have picked 5 of the most diverse beaches in Peru, each more unique than the other, all of which we think need to be visited.

1. The Party Beach – Mancora, Piura.

There is no better place to go to beat the fog that hangs over the central and southern coast than up north, where you can enjoy the sun, 365 days of the year. Mancora is one of the most popular destinations for people all over South America (locals and travellers alike) as it has a vast quantity of nightclubs, open-air bars, restaurants, and over 30 resorts. More often than not, you will find a party here every night of the week, with the most popular party season being from December to March. If you’re looking for some downtime after a long night out, or simply just want to relax by the beach while on your holidays, the main activity apart from partying here is to relax on the beach. Simply lie in the sun or go for a refreshing dip in the water! Livelier activities to do at The Party Beach also include windsurfing, kayaking, surfing and horse-riding.

Due to it’s stunning all year round weather and laid-back vibes, many people end up spending longer than intended at this paradise.

2. The Paradise Beach – Punta Sal, Tumbes.

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat in paradise or a romantic get-away with your partner, you need to look no further than Paradise Beach in Punta Sal, Tumbes. Located in the north of Peru, Punta Sal has long sandy beaches with lush palms and unmissable sunsets. With things to do ranging from trying the amazing seafood to fishing, diving and relaxing at luxurious spa’s and hotels, Punta Sal has warm waters all year round! If you visit between the months of June and October you can even go whale watching. Paradise Beach is a dreamy place with calm, warm waters, blue skies and white sands. There are a wide range of accommodation options in Punta Sal to match the beauty of this beach. You can stay in a beach-front villa or bungalow, or even treat yourself to an all-inclusive resort and just let your worries wash away.

Punta Sal Club – All Inclusive Beach Resort

FIND OUT HOW

3. The Secret Beach – La Mina, Paracas.

Possibly one of the beaches with the most stunning scenery, found hidden away in the Paracas Natural Reserve, 145 miles south of Lima is The Secret Beach. This beach is great for wildlife watching as it has a variety of species of birds, fish and mammals to see. With cool blue waters and a beautiful endless desert behind you, this beach is the perfect place to go for a refreshing dip from the hot sun and sands. Make sure to bring some sun block along with your swim suit as this beach is sunny all year round!

To get here and enjoy the beauty of this beach, you will need to drive through the National Reserve. It tends to be crowded on weekends so head down early or during the week to enjoy it.

4. The City Beach – Miraflores, Lima.

Although it definitely is not considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in Peru, The City Beach in Miraflores, Lima has a unique city cliff backdrop giving visitors a metropolitan, urbane feel. Along the shore by Miraflores, one of the best neighbourhoods in Lima, there is an area known as ‘Costa Verde’. This area hosts nice apartment blocks with stunning sea-views, imminent brown cliffs and lavish green vegetation. During the day, you will see paragliders floating high above you like big, colourful birds which really gives the beach a dreamlike feel.

Things to do at this sea-front includes taking surfing lessons, as this beach tends to be more popular with surfers than swimmers. If you’re feeling a bit more lively and active, you can also go running, cycling and rollerblading by the coast. This unusual beach offers an easy escape from all the city hustle and bustle, yet still being close enough make it back on time for a nice meal out. If you’re looking to spend as much time as possible at the beach, we recommend Lima Bici which offer full day bike tours along the beach and surf classes every day of the year.

Heading down towards from Miraflores towards Barranco and Chorrillos, there are many nice restaurants to eat at. Closer to the Miraflores side, there is a restaurant known as La Rosa Náutica which has a nice boardwalk in towards to sea to eat by. Located quite nearby to this restaurant is also Larcomar which is a shopping centre also with great places to go for some nice food and a drink such as Mango’s or Tanta.

Miraflores Coastline, Lima

5. The Surfer Beach – Huanchaco, Trujillo

Being one of the only five International Surfing Reserve’s in the world, there is no better beach in Peru to go to with your surfboard. Surfers here say that the waves are best during the months between April and October as they’re consistent. Even if you’ve never surfed, you have nothing to worry about as there are an abundance of schools offering lessons. The most popular time to visit is during the Peruvian Summer (December to March) although you can surf any time of year with a wetsuit.

Surfing is not the only thing that makes this beach famous as there is also amazing seafood to indulge on. If you’re not much of a surfer, you can also always try your luck fishing as Huanchaco is a fishing town. We recommend to finish off this perfect trip by ging to a local seafood restaurant for some ceviche, alongside a cold, refreshing beer.

Surfing in Huanchaco, Trujillo

Peru is officially open!

Peru Hop is the only company offering flexible
date change until 2024 at NO extra cost.

More Info