Peru is known for its ancient ruins, lost civilizations, lush jungles, and beautiful natural views. However, it is also a strong contender for the best place to go surfing.
This South American country is hit by the strong waves of the Pacific Ocean and has a wide range of climates. Surfers travel to the south for serenity and the north for insane waves.
What’s more, the beaches of Peru are home to some surreal sights, such as red sand, stilt-built dwellings, historic boats, derelict Victorian homes, 40-foot waves, green cliffs, and sea lions or whales.
If you’re unsure where to begin, here’s a list of the top beaches in Peru to get you started:
Mancora
Mancora is a small fishing community on the coast that enjoys year-round sunshine, making it a favorite destination for surfers and tourists.
Small, locally-owned restaurants with cheap international food can be found all over the unpaved streets. But most visitors come to Mancora for its beach, a beautiful strip of sand where the water is so warm that swimming feels like a luxurious bath.
With its fine powdery sand and positive energy, Mancora’s beach is one of the most popular ones in Peru. Add the nearly year-round sunshine and brilliant blue skies, and you have a recipe for a beach paradise.
Additionally, some of the best surfing in the world is found here, attracting many surfers to the top breaks. And even though it might get crowded, the greatest beach in Peru has enough room for you to carve yourself into your private sanctuary.
Punta Sal
Punta Sal, hidden along the northern shore, is a world-class beach and a top contender for best beaches in the country.
People from the city love to take the fast train down to the beach, where they may relax on the sands for an hour. The longest beach along this stretch of coast, Punta Sal, is a beautiful place to spend a few days basking in the sun and listening to the sound of the waves.
The warm stream that passes through here all year long keeps the water at a comfortable 24 degrees Celsius because of its proximity to the equator.
Punta Sal is one of Peru’s best beaches, and it’s easy to see why: the sea is quiet, the sand is immaculate, and the temperature is just right.
Playa Roja
The unique red hue of the sand at this beach inspired its name, “Playa Roja” (translated as Red Beach).
Volcanic activity in the area makes the sand unusually deep red and fertile. Igneous rock, made of solidified magma, is carried by the waves to the shore, eroding into bright red sand that stands out even more against the yellow cliff.
Playa Roja sits amid the breathtaking scenery of Paracas National Reserve. So that future generations can continue to appreciate Paracas’ way of life, it is important to protect the long coastline and the marine life that lives there.
A highlight for sure is the beach at sunset when the sun illuminates the sand and brings out the lushness of the tropical setting.
Playa de la Mina
La Mina, also set in Paracas, has beautiful scenery and turquoise green seas that are great for swimming.
For anyone seeking to relax on the soft sand while basking in Peru’s sunshine, this beach is beautiful, and all it takes to get there is a short journey down a dirt road. When the road ends, you’ll see the lush surroundings and the beauty of La Mina beach.
Even though the area attracts many tourists throughout the summer, you may find the beach empty when you visit it. For the most daring travelers, a beach camping overnight stay is an option.
With camping, you may stay on La Mina long after the day-trippers have left. Stargazers will enjoy the bright skies, and if you wake up at the right time, you might see the local fishermen heading out to catch the day’s haul and pelicans and sea lions sunning themselves on the beach.
Las Pocitas
One of the most beautiful beaches in Peru is Las Pocitas, a small, hidden gem about 10 minutes south of Mancora. The beach, which translates as “Little Wells,” is named so for the shallow pools of water that form at low tide inside craters in the rocks and are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to play in.
Palm trees and other native, lush plants line the shore, making it a peaceful place to splash in the waves on a lazy afternoon. The classic image of a tropical beach is one of turquoise water lapping against the powdery white sand.
Spread out a towel, slather on some sunscreen, and spend the day basking in the glorious sunshine along this hot shoreline.
Lobitos
This stunning Peruvian beach is a must-visit for any level of surfer. Due to the area’s excellent waves, which have been dubbed the best in Peru, you can find numerous surf schools there.
Once owned by a British oil corporation, Lobitos has now been taken over by surfers and maintains a laid-back surf culture. The remnants of the oil industry are visible across the area, with rigs still out in the ocean and abandoned structures dotting the coastline.
The British left their mark on the beach as well as the town, giving them a strange new flavor and most interesting architecture. Large, historic British buildings look out over the water. Some are occupied by locals, while others have been abandoned or turned into surf hostels.
Huanchaco
You need to visit this chill beach if you’re a serious surfer. Huanchaco used to be a quiet fishing village but is now a tourist town with a beautiful beachfront.
Tourists frequently stop here to rest while traveling to or from the region’s numerous historical sites because of its long stretch of golden sand.
The beach is well-known for its varied water sports, and the local fishermen have developed a distinctive method of catching fish. Little reed horses, or caballos de totora, are braided boats fisherman ride across the waves to gather their catch.
Even though surfboards have replaced reed horses as the primary mode of transportation on the waves, the tradition lives on.
Miraflores
Miraflores may not be the idyllic tropical getaway you picture when you think of Peru’s best beaches because it is a developed, urban beach, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time.
Lima, Peru, is home to an upscale beach community known as Miraflores, which includes the popular City Beach. If you live in a capital city’s urban sprawl, you’ll have proper, easy access to the city and enough open space and fresh air to unwind.
High-rise apartment buildings line the beach, perched on the brink of rocky cliffs covered with lush grass and offering breathtaking ocean views along the Costa Verde.
The great waves draw surfers, and paragliders soar over the beach in a serenity haze. You can also explore the local eateries along the boardwalk near the ocean.
Why visit the beaches of Peru
Peru’s beautiful beaches provide an unmatched special appeal. They offer outstanding restaurants that sell delectable Peruvian ceviche, and some beaches can even be called the best surfing places globally.
Stop thinking! Peru is the crown jewel of South America; don’t hesitate and buy your tickets today. See you there!