Peru Travel - Discovering the Beaches of La Libertad

The coastal department of La Libertad is best known for its capital city of Trujillo. What many people don't know is that La Libertad also has some beautiful Peruvian beaches. It's true that the beaches here aren't as well known as the more famous beaches like Mancora to the north or Paracas to the south. In fact, there are those who would say that this stretch of the coast is just a boring stretch between "here" and "there". But the fact is that the La Libertad coast has a singular combination of the traditional and the contemporary that gives a true sense of uniqueness to its beaches.

Trujillo was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, and was named for his homeland. The city lies above the Moche Balley, a fertile area known for sugar cane and asparagus that grow well in the mild climate. Nearby, you'll find the archeological remains of the mud city of Chan-Chan, the largest ruin of its kind in the world, which was the capital of the Chimu civilization. Trujillo is also the birthplace of the Peruvian national dance, the marinera, and each year the city hosts a contest to crown the national champion dance partners.

Huanchaco is the beach closest to Trujillo and is the best known of the beaches in La Libertad. Here, you'll find fisherman going out daily in their caballitos de totora (little reed horses), a type of reed boat that has been used on the shores of Peru for more than three thousand years. Contemporary life looms nearby as the caballitos share the beach with surfers and windsurfers. A pretty dock separates the beach into two zones, the north and south. The northern beach has gentle waves, making it popular for swimmers and sunbathers. It's populated with a variety of hotels and restaurants, all with very reasonable prices. The Hostal Huanchaco and Hostal Bracamonte are recommended.

A bit farther north, you'll find Chicama, the beach locally known as Malabrigo. This beach is very famous among surfers around the world for having the longest wave in the world. The beach is also windy, making it popular with windsurfers and kite surfers. Chicama is a quaint town, with an old pier and a residential area of old wooden houses located just off the beach. Because the area is so popular with surfers, prices for rooms here are a bit higher, but are still quite reasonable. The Chicama Beach Hotel is recommended for clean rooms and friendly atmosphere.

Just a little farther up the coast brings us to Pacasmayo, another small coastal town steeped in tradition. Until the end of the 18th century, this was the embarkation point for local tobaccos being shipped off to Europe. Today, the city is a pleasant mixture of business and fun, the second of these which you'll find along the beach. The shoreline is dotted with big old houses, many of which have been converted to hotels or restaurants. Pacasmayo is one of the most popular beaches for windsurfers in Peru, as it gets a nice offshore wind down by the small peninsular known as El Faro (the lighthouse). For lodging, we recommend Hotel Pakanamu, located on the beach with rooms starting at about $30.