The sea temperature at Mancora today is 28.6 °C (83 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 22.4 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is 28.2 to 28.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has warmed from 26.5 °C to 28.6 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 22 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.8°C / 74.8°F | 24.4°C / 76.0°F | 24.8°C / 76.7°F |
| February | 24.4°C / 75.9°F | 25.4°C / 77.7°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F |
| March | 25.6°C / 78.1°F | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F |
| April | 23.2°C / 73.7°F | 24.5°C / 76.1°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F |
| May | 22.6°C / 72.7°F | 23.9°C / 75.1°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F |
| June | 21.8°C / 71.2°F | 23.0°C / 73.4°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F |
| July | 21.5°C / 70.7°F | 22.7°C / 72.8°F | 24.7°C / 76.5°F |
| August | 21.7°C / 71.1°F | 22.3°C / 72.1°F | 23.5°C / 74.2°F |
| September | 20.9°C / 69.6°F | 22.0°C / 71.7°F | 23.2°C / 73.8°F |
| October | 21.2°C / 70.2°F | 22.4°C / 72.3°F | 23.6°C / 74.4°F |
| November | 21.1°C / 70.0°F | 22.7°C / 72.8°F | 24.2°C / 75.6°F |
| December | 22.3°C / 72.1°F | 23.1°C / 73.6°F | 23.8°C / 74.9°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.5°C / 76.1°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F |
| February | 25.2°C / 77.4°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F |
| March | 25.4°C / 77.7°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F | 27.9°C / 82.2°F |
| April | 24.9°C / 76.9°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F |
| May | 23.9°C / 75.0°F | 25.0°C / 77.0°F | 25.8°C / 78.5°F |
| June | 22.9°C / 73.2°F | 23.9°C / 75.1°F | 24.9°C / 76.8°F |
| July | 22.3°C / 72.1°F | 23.4°C / 74.2°F | 24.6°C / 76.3°F |
| August | 21.8°C / 71.2°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F | 24.0°C / 75.3°F |
| September | 21.6°C / 71.0°F | 22.8°C / 73.0°F | 23.9°C / 75.0°F |
| October | 21.8°C / 71.2°F | 22.9°C / 73.3°F | 24.1°C / 75.3°F |
| November | 21.9°C / 71.3°F | 22.9°C / 73.3°F | 23.9°C / 75.1°F |
| December | 23.2°C / 73.7°F | 24.3°C / 75.7°F | 25.4°C / 77.6°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Mancora holidays
On Peru's far-north coast, in the Piura region, Máncora grew from a fishing village on the Pan-American Highway into a surf and beach town popular with Peruvians and foreign travellers alike. The sea along this stretch of coast is noticeably warmer than further south, where the cold Humboldt Current dominates, and the desert hills behind the town stay dry for most of the year.
Beaches
The main beach of Máncora lies in front of the town, with a point break at its southern end that draws surfers all year and a lively strip of bars and restaurants behind the sand. South of the town, Las Pocitas is quieter, with rocks that form small natural pools at low tide, and Vichayito further on is a long beach popular with kitesurfers. North of Máncora, Punta Sal has calmer water and large resort hotels. The sea temperature on this page is measured off Las Pocitas.
Things to do
Surf schools in Máncora teach beginners on the gentler waves, and kitesurfing is centred on Vichayito and Los Órganos. At El Ñuro, a fishing pier south of Los Órganos, green sea turtles swim among the boats, and from roughly July to October boat trips from Los Órganos look for humpback whales. Cabo Blanco, further south, is a fishing village where Ernest Hemingway came to fish for marlin in the 1950s. Inland, Poza de Barro offers mud baths in the Quebrada Fernández area of the dry forest; check local access and transport.
Weather and best time to visit
At Mancora the sea stays above 22 °C / 72 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Máncora is sunny for most of the year. December to April is the warmest season and the busiest, especially around Christmas, New Year and Peruvian holidays, when prices rise and the town is crowded. From June to November mornings are often cloudy and the air is cooler, but rain is rare. In El Niño years, heavy rain can reach this coast in the summer months.
Hotels and where to stay
Máncora's town centre has hostels, guesthouses and small hotels close to the main beach and its nightlife. Quieter boutique hotels and bungalows line the old Pan-American Highway south of the town, at Las Pocitas and Vichayito, and the large all-inclusive resorts are at Punta Sal.
Signature hotels: Arennas Mancora (Las Pocitas)
Airport and getting there
The nearest airports are Talara (TYL), about 1.5 hours south by road, and Tumbes (TBP), about 2 hours north, both with flights from Lima. Piura (PIU) has more connections and is about 3 hours away. Overnight buses run from Lima to Máncora along the Pan-American Highway, a journey of well over 15 hours.