Discover Piura: Coast, Culture and Lagoons

In Piura, travel experiences range from water sports and possible wildlife sightings along the coast to Semana Santa, celebrated in Catacaos since 1540. At Laguna Shimbe, a landscape of lagoons and a traditional practice define the area. When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore worth first considering which of these different sides of the region you want to shape your stay.

Coast: Water Sports and Wildlife Sightings

Máncora Beach can be reached on foot, by taxi or by mototaxi from the town of Máncora. Before planning your visit, check which of these options is available to you. Kitesurfing, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling are possible at Playa Vichayito. Between August and November, turtles, dolphins, sea lions and whales can be spotted there.

At Playa El Ñuro, possible activities include swimming, kayaking, surfing, selected forms of deep-sea fishing and windsurfing. Swimming with green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) is another special experience here: visitors can swim freely with them in their natural habitat, without a boat and close to shore. The two beaches therefore differ, among other things, in Vichayito’s explicitly mentioned seasonal wildlife sightings and the encounter with sea turtles at El Ñuro.

Caleta Cabo Blanco is also known for a special connection to the sea: the place is famous for a world record in deep-sea fishing. The coast offers various ways to shape your travel plans—from water sports and seasonal wildlife sightings to deep-sea fishing, which contributes to the area’s reputation.

Lagoons and Protected Nature

Banco de Máncora is known for its high fish diversity and endemism. Its recognition by the Reserva Nacional del Mar de Grau is set out in Decreto Supremo N° 003-2024-MINAM. The Manglares de San Pedro de Vice were designated Peru’s 13th Ramsar site; the wetland is located in the province of Sechura in Piura. Both facts give the region’s natural environment a distinct profile, without equating the different forms of protection and recognition.

Laguna Shimbe is part of a complex of more than 30 lagoons known as Huaringas or Huarinjas. Part of the lagoon lies within the private protected area Bosques Montanos y Páramos Chicuate Chinguelas, belonging to the Comunidad Campesina Segunda y Cajas. Visitors to Laguna Shimbe usually take part in baños de florecimiento accompanied by a “maestro curandero.” Both the landscape and the traditional practice are part of the experience described here.

Catacaos and Chulucanas: Tradition and Cultural Heritage

Semana Santa in Catacaos has been celebrated since 1540. Every Palm Sunday, a procession with Christ on a white, living donkey travels from the Carmen de Monte Sullón chapel along Calle Comercio to Iglesia San Juan Bautista. The specific annual proceedings may vary. Calle Comercio is in the Monumental Zone of Catacaos, which Peru’s Ministry of Culture declared historical cultural heritage of Peru in 1988; around 30 historic houses remain along the street. Iglesia San Juan Bautista is a colonial church whose first building was constructed in 1547.

Pottery offers another distinct cultural connection: Chulucanas pottery has had a protected designation of origin since 2006. Production takes place mainly in La Encantada near Chulucanas, within Piura. Those interested in religious tradition and historic architecture will find specific points of interest in Catacaos; Chulucanas and La Encantada represent a different, craft-focused aspect.

Aypate is connected to the Qhapaq Ñan, which links Ecuador and Peru on the route toward Cusco. The tourism structure for Piura described in 2022 included three destinations recognized with the international Safe Travels seal; three tourist circuits or corridors brought together a total of 13 attractions.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When looking for a vacation rental in Piura, it helps to have a clear travel focus: for beach activities, Máncora, Vichayito and El Ñuro offer different experiences; Catacaos and Chulucanas bring processions, cultural heritage and pottery into the picture. At Laguna Shimbe, lagoon scenery and a traditional practice come together. Choose your location based on the places you want to define your trip, and plan the journeys between your preferred stops to suit your stay.

Discover more destinations: Talara, Piura, Máncora, Colán, Lobitos, Sechura, Sullana, Paita District, Ñuro, Canchaque District, El Alto, Paita.

For the full travel overview: Peru.