When a well-travelled UJ friend recommended Máncora in the north of Peru– a seaside town accessible down a dusty road, located a little over an hour from the closest airport; a hotbed for surfers and those looking to chill – we knew we had to go.
Máncora is just under two hours from Lima by plane, and Talara is the closest airport, with Piura and Tumbes alternative options. Located directly on the beach, Kichic is about a 15 minute TukTuk to Máncora town.
The Hotel
From the outside, there’s nothing to see here: just a simple sign and covered bench to wait for TukTuks. But buzz the doorbell, and enter a secluded tropical oasis. There are only nine rooms, but the restaurant, which is spread throughout the property with private nooks and coves to hole yourself up in, is very popular, and makes the hotel seem much larger. There’s a pool, large open-air yoga shala, serviced beach seating, and boutique.
The Vibe
The vibe here is salt-in-your-hair, sand-in-your-toes, and laidback; many travellers come here either before or after they’ve been trekking around Peru to relax. There are also Lima residents who visit on weekends for a break from the city, and locals from Máncora and surrounding towns who come here for the yoga or the restaurant. The hotel is adults only.
The Rooms
Do get an oceanfront room as there’s nothing quite like the sound of waves lapping and sunsets from your terrace. Rooms may be in the jungle, but they also have a contemporary feel, with shala-like roofing offset by modern light fixtures and simple flooring paired with stylish custom seating. They’ve done a great job of integrating elements from outside – stone and wood – and there are mod cons like air conditioning and hair dryers, but TVs are thankfully tucked away (and covered up), and phones replaced by walkie talkies. Rooms vary but highlights include outdoor showers, glass walls to allow for unobstructed waterfront views, outdoor beds for lounging/sleeping, and silky lightweight dressing gowns.
Restaurants/Bars
The drinking and dining offering here is a definite highlight. Everything is open air – which tells you a lot about the climate here.
For dinner, we say start at the bar. They can make anything you like but have an extensive cocktail menu too; then, head to an atmospheric spotlit table a for fresh catch of the day. The menu has local elements that are elevated in cooking style and presentation. Breakfast is a buffet that includes fresh juice (papaya), granola and eggs, and lunch has salads and comfort foods, like pizza and rice dishes. If you order a bottle of wine but only want a glass, they’ll keep it for you behind the bar.
Wellbeing
Yoga here is daily at 9AM (every day but Wed, but do check the schedule), and you’re right on the beach so you can run or walk. They can also organise massages, and advise on surf schools in Máncora.
Highlights
The sunsets. Make sure to sit on the beach and watch the sun go down. The staff are also very responsive on WhatsApp, which is helpful when trying to arrange things.
Anything Else
They can organise experiences like whale watching and a private cinema on the beach, and there’s a Casa KICHIC that sleeps up to five, should you be travelling with friends. We’ve heard the neighbouring town, Punta Sal, is worth checking out, too. We can’t say we loved the town of Máncora, but we loved the hotel’s location and the hotel itself, so it’s definitely worth the trip for a rejuvenating stop.
