Surf 'n' turf: 10 best Peru beaches

Peru is so much more than Machu Picchu and pretty pastel towns. At the country’s western edge lies a coastline ready for you to explore. Whether you want to swim, snorkel, surf, spot sealife or simply sit with your toes in the sand, Peruvian beaches offer something for all types of adventurer.

1. Máncora beach, Piura

Best known for: surfing and nightlife

Long stretches of silky sands in one of Peru’s sunniest corners, it’s not hard to see why Máncora is one of the most popular beach destinations in Peru. With late night driftwood bars and ceviche spots studded along the shores, Máncora is a lively stop for those looking for a bit of fun in the sun. It also boasts some of the best surf in Peru, especially if you’re a newbie, so it’s the perfect place to learn how to hang ten. There’s plenty of wind for kitesurfers too!

Join The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure and you’ll spend a few days in Máncora with other young like-minded travellers. 65 days, seven countries, three nights in the Amazon, and an adventure you’ll remember forever.

2. Punta Sal beach, Tumbes

Best known for: relaxing, swimming and whale watching

Between June and October each year, the north coast of Peru becomes a hotspot for humpback whales. Punta Sal, on the northern tip of the Tumba region, is one of the best places to see the splashy giants. Below the surface, you’ll find an underwater world brimming with barracuda, tuna, and other species popular with fishing fans.

It’s also, quite simply, a very nice beach. Being one of the longest stretches of coastline in the world, you won’t struggle to find a spot for your beach towel. And the warm, calm, equatorial waters make it the ideal spot to swim and submerge those sore hiking legs.

3. Punta Hermosa beach, Lima

Best known for: surfing and seafood

Just over an hour’s drive south from Lima, Punta Hermosa is a traditional beach town with lively bars, good waves and excellent fish restaurants. Watch the surfers from the safety of a sunlounger or find a surf school and live your best life in the water. There is also a nice walk from one end of town to the other, which takes you along windswept beaches and sandy coves. Oh and every summer there’s a reggae festival!

If you've got a spare day, our Lima Day Tour: Highlights and Insiders Tour (full day) gives you a unique take on the capital’s culture and culinary highlights. From the bone-lined cathedral to the boutiques of bohemian Barranco, it’ll set you up well for a few days on the coast.

4. Huanchaco beach, Trujillo

Best known for: traditional fishing and day trips

Halfway between Lima and Máncora lies the charming Huanchaco, another beach popular with surf and ceviche fans. In fact, locals claim that Huanchaco is the birthplace of the world’s first-ever surfboard, and fishermen still use their traditional reed boards or ‘horses’ to this day. You can watch this 3000-year-old tradition or take the bus to Chan Chan to see the maze-like remains of Chimú — the largest city of the pre-Columbian era in South America.

The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure includes a few days in Trujillo, taking you to Huanchaco and Chan Chan. You’ll also visit Máncora, Lima and Nazca, where you have the option to visit the Ballestas Islands, home to stunning beaches and a lively sea lion colony.

5. Paracas, Ica

Best known for: rugged wilderness of its national park

Only a short drive from Paracas’ beach town, the remote beaches of Paracas National Reserve are a haven for wildlife. Sea lions take sanctuary on red sands, dolphins play in warm waters, and birds such as cormorants and pelicans can often be seen circling the crumbling cliffs. The richness of this coastal desert make Paracas a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

Not for swimmers or surfers, Barlovento beach is one of the most isolated in the park. The wild waters are home to schools of sea bass, making it a firm favourite among fishermen.

Our Absolute Peru tour takes you on a 21-day round trip from Lima via Paracas, where you also have the option of sailing to the Ballestas Islands, a diverse heritage site, home to over 160 species of mammals and marine birds.

6. Zorritos beach, Tumbes

Best known for: perfect climate and white sand

Sometimes simple is best. Close to the border with Ecuador, Zorritos is the poster child of tropical beaches. White sands and warm waters make it the perfect place to put your feet up and take a bath. The climate here is unbelievably good all year round, hovering at about 26°C. If you want to turn the heat up, pay a visit to the nearby Hervideros hot springs and submerge yourself in the thermal pools. Steamy!

7. Ancón beach, Lima

Best known for: good food and local atmosphere

Popular beach resort north of the capital, Ancón is a favourite amongst Lima locals. Still boasting a thriving fishing community, you’re never short of good cevicherias and seafood restaurants. The main draw here is that it feels like you’re on a Peruvian holiday with Peruvians, and you’re only an hour’s drive from Lima.

If you've got time in Lima and want to see the best bits, check out our Lima Day Tour: Highlights and Insiders Tour (full day). This half day walking tour of Lima’s historical centre immerses you in local culture and sets you up for small talk with native day-trippers in Ancón.

8. Playa los Órganos, Piura

Best known for: sunsets and swimming with turtles

Just south of Máncora is a quiet stretch of beach known as Los Órganos. Uncrowded and unspoilt, it’s hard to believe you’re just twenty minutes from one of Peru’s buzziest beach towns. That said, there’s still plenty to do in this sleepy fishing village. You can surf, snorkel, and swim with turtles. Or simply enjoy the quiet — Órganos has some of the best sunsets in South America.

One beach over to the south you’ll find El Ñuro. Sea turtles from the Galapagos will often be seen swimming around the pier. Arrive early to get a shellfie!

9. Santa Maria del Mar, Lima

Best known for: scuba diving

Only an hour from Peru’s capital, Santa Maria del Mar boasts bountiful dive sites for all levels of diver. El Muelle off the coast of Embajadores is a wreckage accessible via an abandoned dock. Dive into its 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 teeming with moray eels, sea lions, and all sorts of slippery sea dwellers. Rocky bottoms never looked this good.

If you like to stay active on your holidays, our Peru Multisport tour will get your heart racing. Hike to ancient marvels, mountain bike through small local villages and kayak the banks of Lake Titicaca. It’s the perfect blend of exercise and culture.

10. Lobitos beach, Piura

Best known for: surfing

Are you a board-riding history buff? Look no further for your perfect holiday destination – Lobitos on the westernmost point of South America. Once home to an old British oil company, you’ll find abandoned Victorian-era buildings and rusted military barracks, all on a backdrop of 8-foot waves. Whether you’re a professional or just learning the ropes, Lobitos has a wave for you.

If you never tire of the board, whether it’s sea, snow or sand, then The Peruvian Coast: Seafood, Sandboarding & Dune Buggies is for you. For board-newbies, sandboarding is way quicker to pick up than surfing and it doesn’t hurt as much when you fall!

So there you have it, ten of the best beaches that Peru has to offer. Whether you’re into surfboards or sun loungers, whatever your beach persona, there is a spot on Peru’s coast waiting for your foot-shaped imprints on it. Happy beaching!