Where to Stay in Huanchaco, Peru
Budget to Luxury
Did you know that you can find world-class surfing and some of the most affordable surf lessons worldwide in Peru? Huanchaco is an underrated coastal retreat in Peru which is 100% worth a visit. If you are considering heading there, these are my accommodation recommendations after living in Huanchaco for 3 weeks.
Along the northern coast of Peru, you will find Huanchaco, your typical surfer town. The vibes are relaxed and you can find some delicious food plus the nicest people.
On top of that, it is easily the cheapest place I have ever seen for surf lessons. You can get a 3-hour lesson starting at just $15 – that is unheard of. Rentals are at most $5 per day, which makes Huanchaco the perfect place to learn or improve on surfing.
About twenty minutes from Huanchaco is also Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian city that is now an archaeological site. The sheer size of Chan Chan is hard to comprehend and the history of it is fascinating. Truly worth a visit.
Where to stay in Huanchaco, Peru for any traveller:
Huanchaco is a super walkable, small surf town. It is connected to Trujillo, the nearby city, by local buses. For surfers, the pier in the middle of the city was kind of used to divide beginners (on the right side when looking towards the sea) and more advanced (to the left), though it can change based on conditions.
Huanchaco is also incredibly affordable to stay in, with the most expensive places costing around $50 per night. If you are looking to relax, surf, do some yoga and see incredible sunsets, here are the best accommodation options in Huanchaco:
Affordable hostels in Huanchaco:
Atma Hostel & Yoga – I stayed in this hostel and ended up volunteering for 2 weeks as I loved it so much. The dorms are nice, it is super affordable and you will meet lovely people!
Punta Huanchaco Hostel – an amazing hostel that is in the centre. It has super affordable dorms and double rooms, making it great for solo travelelrs and couples/friends alike.
Hotels at different price points in Huanchaco:
$ Hotel Riviera Muchik– a nice little hotel right by where most of the surf shops are.
$ Hotel Club Colonial – A small hotel within walking distance to the beach.
$$ Spondylus – Beautiful apartments in the centre of Huanchaco, especially great for families.
$$ Hotel Bracamonte – Lovely, central hotel with a pool and on-site restaurant.
How to get to Huanchaco?
You can either fly here from Lima or get the bus. Flights can be cheap depending on timing, so if you want to spare yourself a night bus, check for flights here!
🚌 I went by night bus with the company Cruz del Sur, which is one of the most popular. Check out my bus guide for Peru here. A great other alternative would be Linea. The night bus takes 10-11 hours and is usually very affordable and pretty comfortable.
When taking the bus, try and avoid going to Terrapuerto in Trujillo as that is a fairly unsafe area outside so you have to take a Taxi (which is still so affordable here). The closer you can get to the area of Av. Espana, the better.
From the bus station, you can take a taxi or the local bus to Huanchaco. I walked to Av. España, which is the big roundabout where all buses in Trujillo pass through as that’s what the locals at the bus station told me to do. Many say that the roundabout by Óvalo Grau also has the right buses pass through and its a shorter walk for Linea buses. Watch out for a bus that says Huanchaco at the top and get on. You pay 2.5 soles when getting off in cash and they tend to have some change.
I would avoid the Taxi drivers that shout at you in the stations and book one through InDrive. It’s a ton cheaper and I always felt safe.
How many days do you need in Huanchaco?
I had initially only booked 4 nights in the little surf town and found myself there for over 2 weeks. I loved the peaceful atmosphere, cheap surfing and great community.
If you aren’t into surfing, there is a limited number of things to do. The Chan Chan ruins are impressive and Huanchaco itself is a cute city to walk around.
Is it worth going to Huanchaco?
I would say yes, it is absolutely worth going to Huanchaco. Especially if you are into surfing or have been travelling for a while and looking for some rest.
The small surf town exudes an air of peace and serenity, which you don’t find in many of the more vibrant and tourist-packed areas of Peru.
Everything you need to know about visiting Peru:
Hi, I'm Bell
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