¡Vamos a la playa! Beach life at Punta Sal, northern Peru

Northern Peru has some great beaches, but my favorite has to be the secluded and picturesque Punta Sal. It’s only 14 miles from bustling surf mecca of Mancora but it couldn’t be more different. Apart from a couple of hotels of varying quality (some are exceptional, none are dire) there really is nothing going on in Punta Sal. There’s no town to speak of, its calm waters are not as attractive to surfers, and there’s definitely nothing resembling a party scene.

The name Punta Sal refers to the rocky point which separates the two beaches, Playa Grande and Playa Chica. Highlights of my trip included pre-breakfast swims in the Halcyon waters; mid-morning snacks of ceviche bought from the roaming vendors on the beach; indulgent after-lunch siestas and long romantic sunset walks spanning the full length of both beaches.

Punta Sal is also something of mecca for deep-sea fishermen and marlin, tuna, wahoo and dorado are regularly caught off its coastline. If you’re still not convinced, consider the fact that this part of Northern Peru is one of those very lucky places which receives year round sunny weather. Surely this seals the deal?

Thanks to Raul Vasquez for the title image of this blog.Raul Vasquez