After touring around the natural and cultural sights of Peru, unwind on the beaches of the Pacific north coast. Just south of the equator, Mancora has the best beaches in Peru, with good weather year-round, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing few days before returning to the daily grind in the UK.
Day time temperatures are in the mid 20s to low 30s throughout the year, with little rainfall. Tourism is much less developed than in the south of Peru, and the area receives relatively few foreign visitors.
The Hotel Las Arenas is located on the exclusive beach of Las Pocitas, a fifteen minute taxi ride south of the town of Mancora. The town is still very relaxed, now mostly serving tourists from Lima and other people passing through, but there are a number of restaurants and bars. The former fishing village of Mancora has some of the best surf in Peru, and you can rent boards in town, and even take lessons to learn how to surf. Kite boarding is also possible.
Las Pocitas is an exclusive area located on a three mile long white, sandy beach. Here, the Pacific Ocean is calmer than in Mancora, and swimming is possible, although the sea can still get a bit rough, especially in the afternoons.
Mancora is a genuine off-the-beaten-track find. To get there, you fly one and a half hours north from Lima, and then transfer by road for two and a half hours on the Pan American Highway through the desert to your hotel. The last fifteen minutes of the journey are on an unpaved road.
Located right on the beachfront at Las Pocitas, the Hotel Las Arenas is an ideal place to spend a few days relaxing. There is a large pool, ideal for swimming or relaxing around, and spacious, well-maintained gardens. The good restaurant specialises in seafood. Each of the 19 simply furnished rooms has air conditioning and a porch with hammock and deck chairs.
Located right on the beach, this small hotel has only 7 rooms, each with an ocean view. The rooms are tastefully decorated, each with a private terrace and en-suite bathroom. There is a restaurant, bar and small plunge pool, and there are day beds on the beach. The spa offers massage sessions (advanced booking required).
This is an area of Peru which receives relatively few foreign visitors and sometimes the service is more relaxed than in the rest of the country. However, the staff are very friendly, and although not all speak English, many do.