Green Toad Bus

Recommended Minimum Nights: 4

Mancora is just a paradise. Imagine drinking a margarita at a beachside bar with some newly aqcuired friends as you watch the sunset over perfect breaking waves. Mancora is great for surfing or lazing all day on one of the best beaches in South America.

Mancora is a small fishing village with barely more than 10.000 inhabitants. It is 1000 kilometers North of Lima and close to Tumbes, Talara and the Ecuadorian border. In recent years it has become a great touristic destination for locals and foreigners alike, though it still retains the air of a small town.  Mancora has more than 20 kilometers of fine sand beaches and comfortable warm water, and is well equipped with good hostels and great places to go out.

One of the best attractions are the traditional Peruvian plates and seafood to be found here. You cannot pass-up a delicious tamal piurano, a ceviche , or a "tiradito tres colores". The toughest thing you have to do is to choose from one of its many romantic restaurants by the sea.

There are several beaches nearby to go to like Punta Sal, Playa del Amor (Love beach) and Las Pocitas, where  you can easily rent a surfboard. You can also enjoy horse riding, kite-surfing and windsurfing.

Recommended Minimum Nights: 3
Recommended Activities: City Tour

Not only is Lima likely to be the starting point for your visit to Peru, this enormous city is full of places and activities worth a day or two to explore. Take your time to feel the energy of street life in the central area and admire the beautiful parks and colonial buildings in the lovely San Isidro or Miraflores neighborhoods. Lima is a great place to start backpacking in South America!

The city of Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. It quickly became a very important commercial city and the administrative centre for most of South America. Unfortunately it suffered two giant earthquakes in its history (1687 and 1746) destroying most of the original buildings. Lima bounced back well after the disasters with the rapid reconstruction of delightful areas which attract a world of travellers. The Plaza de Armas, which features the beautiful Cathedral and the Government Palace, and close by the Church of La Merced, the Inquisition Museum and Saint Francis Monastery are just some of the interesting places to visit.

Traveling in Peru offers a unique experience, and Lima offers some of the things that you won´t see in the rest of Peru. Lima has the best museums in Peru, so allow time to see at least a few of the most interesting ones. The Gold Museum of Peru has an excellent collection of Inca gold crafts and a unique old weapons collection. The National Museum and the National Anthropology Museum are also good places to check out.

Lima is also a great place to have fun and relax! Adrenalin lovers should try paragliding in Miraflores or maybe surfing at the Waikiki or Los Chorrillos beaches. Be certain not to skip going out in Lima: the nightlife is one of the best in Peru, especially in the Barranco and Miraflores neighborhoods. The city hosts excellent bars and discos were you can find rock, jazz and Latin music. It also has nice "peñas" such as those close to the "Puente de los Suspiros", or Bridge of Sighs in Barranco.