Los Órganos

Los Órganos sits twelve kilometres south of Máncora with the same warm water and sun but far less noise, and two things draw people. From July to October humpback whales pass through on their migration from Antarctic feeding waters to breed and calve in the warm equatorial seas off northern Peru, and boats run out daily from the town in a whale-watching operation that has grown considerably since the 2010s, with local operators following a code of conduct on approach distances. At El Ñuro, a small fishing cove nearby, green turtles gather under the pier where fishermen clean their catch, and swimming with them from the pier has become a standard excursion - regulated now, with limits on numbers and a ban on touching. The town beach is long and calm, and there are surf breaks either side.

What you actually see

• The humpbacks - migrating whales offshore from about July to October.
• The El Ñuro turtles - green turtles gathering under the fishing pier.
• The beach - a long calm stretch with surf breaks at either end.
• The contrast with Máncora - the same coast without the party scene.

When to go

July to October for whales, which is also the cooler and cloudier season on this coast. Year-round for beaches and turtles. Two to four days.

Honest expectations

Whale sightings are not guaranteed and boats can be rough. At El Ñuro touching the turtles is prohibited and numbers in the water are limited - the rules exist because the site was being damaged. Facilities are simpler than Máncora. Beach vendors are persistent.

Nearby

Máncora is north; Cabo Blanco is south along the coast.