How to Get from Lima to Mancora

Glorious sandy beaches and some of the fanciest resorts in Peru make Máncora the country's trendiest beach. From Lima, it is a long road journey north up the coast, or a flight to Piura or Tumbes followed up by overland transport to Máncora. Transfer between transport hubs in Tumbes or Piura by taxi.

Read more about Máncora and other destinations in the little-visited north of Peru with this article on Places Most Tavelers Miss in Peru (But Shouldn't).

By Plane to Tumbes and Bus or Private Transfer

Duration: 4.25-4.5 hours

Flight time from Lima to Tumbes, a city in the very north of Peru near the Ecuadorian border, is around two hours. LATAM operates two to three flights daily, of which only one is an evening departure. From the Aeropuerto Capitán FAP Pedro Canga Rodríguez Airport in Tumbes, it is then a two-hour drive southwest to Máncora, either by taxi from the airport or by bus which leaves from one of several terminals within central Tumbes, a ten-minute drive from the airport.

Because of the proximity of the Tumbes airport to Máncora, this is the easiest way of getting between Lima and Máncora.

By Plane to Piura and Bus or Private Transfer

Duration: 5-5.5 hours

There are far more daily direct flights to Piura than there are to Tumbes, so while the above option is the quickest means of travel between Lima and Máncora, this option is also very much used. There are daily direct flights at least every two to three hours between 5 am and 8 pm. LATAM, Peruvian and Sky Airlines Peru offer this route. Flight time is about two hours.

In Piura, Capitán FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico Airport is on the east side of the city 1.25 miles (2 km) from the center. You can get a taxi at the airport direct to Máncora, or catch a taxi for five minutes into central Piura from where many different bus companies offer services to Máncora departing throughout the day, and each leaving from that respective company's terminal. Whichever option you choose, travel time to Máncora is three hours by road from Piura. 

Because of the distance done by road, this is the most expensive (although only second-quickest) way of getting from Lima to Máncora. 

By Bus

Duration: 17-20 hours

This is the cheapest and slowest means of getting from Lima to Máncora. Buses run north along the coast up the Hwy Pan-Americana Norte, via Trujillo, Chiclayo, and Piura to Tumbes. Depending on the bus you take, you may have to change in any of those cities, although there are direct buses, plus those that run to Tumbes or to Ecuador which will also stop in Máncora.

In Lima, buses depart from there own individual company terminals. Cruz del Sur, which has the best levels of comfort and the highest prices, has one to two daily direct buses from their Javier Prado terminal. Civa, which also offer a high level of comfort. All buses run overnight.