Peru’s chilly desert coastline gives way to warmer waters and a more sub-tropical feel in the far northwest, where the fishing village of Máncora is the foremost destination for Peruvian and foreign holidaymakers, surfers and adventurous travellers. Close to the town are several small, laid-back resorts, with simple accommodation on yawning palm-fringed beaches with views of sunsets reflecting blood-orange over the Pacific. It’s a friendly place, and its great surf means it attracts young (but not exclusively so) visitors who enjoy a lively night life in the bars and restaurants in town.

From July to October or November humpback whales trace the coastline on their way north from Antarctica. Take a whale-spotting tour to maximise your chances of viewing mothers and their babies or male whales courting the females.