| Route | First Bus | Last Bus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tumbes to Chiclayo | 00:45 | 22:00 | BOOK NOW |
| Tumbes to Lima | 07:31 | 17:00 | BOOK NOW |
| Tumbes to Trujillo | 19:00 | 19:30 | BOOK NOW |
| Tumbes to Chimbote | 14:00 | 15:00 | BOOK NOW |
| Tumbes to Máncora | 00:45 | 16:30 | BOOK NOW |
| Route | First Bus | Last Bus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima to Tumbes | 09:15 | 20:00 | BOOK NOW |
| Chiclayo to Tumbes | 08:30 | 23:15 | BOOK NOW |
| Trujillo to Tumbes | 19:00 | 20:30 | BOOK NOW |
| Chimbote to Tumbes | 17:47 | 22:50 | BOOK NOW |
| Huaura to Tumbes | 13:45 | 20:30 | BOOK NOW |
The best time to visit Tumbes is at the important dates celebration, that take place in June or September.
-The weather in Tumbes is very warm and dry, with maximum temperatures of 84 °F (29 °C) and minimum of 70 °F (21°C); that’s why it’s indispensable to have enough water to be hydrated.
Location: 512, Huáscar Av.
Hours: from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Price: unknown information
Snacks, menu dishes and a large variety of alcoholic drinks and non alcoholic drinks are waiting for you at this unique restobar in Tumbes. Go and visit it with friends and enjoy the best service in a welcoming atmosphere with good music. We recommend you the chilcano de berries, prepared with strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, or an stimulating maracumango sour, prepared based on passion fruit, mango and the best pisco.
Location: 505, Grau street
Hours: from 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Price: unknown information
Location: Bolognesi street with Benavides breakwater
Hours: unknown information
Price: from 10 to 70 soles
If you look for a good marine food don’t hesitate to come to this restaurant. They are specialized in fishes and shellfishes, but they also have an asorted creole menu. Their location is privileged, close to the breakwater, you’ll have an excellent view of the Tumbes river.
Location: 275, San Martín street
Hours: unknown information
Price: an average of 40 soles
El Manglar is an exclusive restaurant that is part of the services provided by the 4 stars hotel El Sol de Tumbes. It’s perfect for the people who love good food in a smart atmosphere, perfect for a romantic dinner. The menu is limited, because of the high quality of the ingredients. Enjoy as much as possible this marine food.
Location: 115, Bolívar Av.
Hours: from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Price: unknown information
This restaurant has several years offering typical flavors of the northern cooking. You can taste black shells ceviche and the best langoustines of the city.
Location: between the Simón Bolivar and Miguel Grau streets
Hours: all day
Price: free entrance
It’s the main meeting point for local festivals and the amusement place, where locals and visitors can have a quiet moment at the shade of the kingelia pinnata trees (popularly known as matacojudos, kill-stupids). At the square you can appreciate the presence of an acoustic shell, famous under the name encounter of 2 worlds; it represents the intercultural crash between the Spanish culture and the culture that dominated in the pre-Hispanic times. In the center of this modern construction the cacique Chilimasa monument stands out, Indian native authority who resisted with ferocity the Spanish invasion in Tumbes.
Location: at the right bank f the Tumbes river, in the center of the city
Hours: all day
Price: free entrance
From the breakwater viewpoint you obtain one of the best views of the Tumbes landscape. This breakwater has a modern and showy architecture of 900 meters area. It was built originally to protect the city from floods caused by the strong rains. Nowadays it protects the city from nature phenomenons, but it’s also the favourite place to rest and contemplation of the beautiful twilights in Tumbes.
Location: at 20 meters from the Plaza de Armas
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Price: free entrance
It’s located in front of the Plaza de Armas of the city. The name corresponds to the Saint Patron of the city, San Nicolás de Tolentino. The construction dates from the 17th century and the architecture is baroque-republican style. After the restoration of 1985, the church became one of the latest churches of the peruvian north, even if the inside preserves the classical mysticism and the colonial spirituality; part of the baroque art can still be appreciated on its archs and large windows, which have pictures representing scences of the Saints, Jesus Christ and the Virgin. If you value the classic monuments that combine modern architecture or you enjoy spiritual tourism, don’t you miss the Iglesia Matriz.
Location: at 8 mi (13 kms) from the city
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Price: free entrance
This port is well-known for being one of the best fishermen’s of black shells small cove throughout the region. The not so deep waters allow the practice of water skiing, windsurf and small boat stroll (or boat). From the harbor you can access to the mangroves of Tumbes, the Amor island, the one of Hueso Ballena and the Pájaros island. You wil have several options to book a guided tour to those natural attractions.
Location: at 68 mi (110 kms) from the city
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Price: with the SERNAMP permission (rntumbes@sernanp.gob.pe)
This natural reserve has been recognized by the UNESCO as part of the North-West Biosphere Reserve, since there are still areas not touched by the human hand. At this ecosystem there are species from the jungle, the mountain and the coast. You will appreciate the coastal fox, the otorongo (a jaguar kind) and the Andean condor which overfly the sky. The reserve area protects endangered species as the Tumbes crocodile, the otter of the north-west, the mono coto and the machín blanco (two sorts of monkey that are the only primates of the Peruvian coast). It doesn’t worth to visit the reserve during the rain season (from January to March) or during El Niño phenomenon.
(Tumpis fortress)
Location: at 3 mi (5 kms) to the South-west of the city, Los Corrales town
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Price: entrance with a ticket (you must ask for it at the Tumbes municipality)
This archaeological complex of adobe and rock structures was named by locals San Pedro de los Incas. On the inside there are tools attributed to the Chimú culture and remains of a great variety of spondylus, where you can observe anthropomorphous representations. You will discover as well a trail longer than 5 mi (8 kms). There is an irrigation canal and the huaca Cabeza de Vaca. This one is an impressive contruction of 250 meters long, 100 fo width and 15 meters high. This complex has been immortalized in 1 sol coins, with an engraved worthy the collection Proud and riches of Peru.
Location: Pizarro beach, Zorritos
You can practice handmade and sportive fishing in Tumbes, a place characterized for its rich maritime fauna. You will find specialized shops that sell the ideal equipment for a correct and satisfactory fishing morning.
Location: Zorritos beach, Punta Sal
The best waves of Peru are located in the North beaches, with the best summer weather throughout the year. In the sea of Tumbes you can practice surf and kitesurf.
Location: National Park Cerro de Amotape, National Reserve of Tumbes
Paths surrounded by lush nature receive travellers who like long trekkings and ecoturism. The nature reserves are the perfect place to start outdoors adventure. You can also camp at the allowed areas, what will let you enter in contact with your natural side.
Location: Punta Sal
At the beaches of Tumbes you can dive as a fish on the water, specially in the warm sea of Punta Sal. At this beach you can do recreational and free diving easily, since its waters are calm, just ideal for the less experienced. You can complement diving with submarine hunting, because there are fertile areas on marine fauna. Close to Punta Sal there is a place called Peña Redonda, very popular among the most experienced divers. To find Peña Redonda you have to go with a guide who will tell you the exact location.
It’s the emblematic plate of Tumbes. It’s prepared with fried banana and is seasoned with a delicious northern sauce of shellfish. It’s served with the herb yuyo leafs and salty cancha (a type of fried corn).
This dish is based on fresh crab, grouper, prawns, langoustines, white wine, seasoned fish, yellow chilly pepper and other spices. This plate concentrates an assorted variety of flavours in one plate, usually served with fried potatoes and salad.
The crab is one of the most used ingredients of the Tumbes cooking due to its abundance, high quality and high contents of phosphorus. To prepare it you need crabs, prawns, a type of chilly pepper, garlic, sweet pepper, eggs, potatoes, milk, noodles, oregano, onion and various condiments. Eat a chupe really delightful to be more than satisfied.
This ceviche is considered the perfect aphrodisiac, based on black shells that concentrate fresh, spicy and stimulant flavours. Taste it served with sweet potato, the mountain cancha (fried corn), the typical chifles (fried banana) and a sweet chicha morada (a drink of violet corn). But be careful with the aphrodisiac properties!
You will also find in Tumbes the most exotic drinks of the north as the chinguirito, which is a combination of coconut and moonshine. You have also redcurrant macerate and orange guava and melon cocktails.
| Tumbes Anniversary | (January the 7th) | This day a serenade is prepared in honour of the city and all the locals participate. This activity is complemented by cutural events, tasting of typical food and colourful fireworks. |
| Aniversario de la Cruz | (May the 6th) | The cross is the main symbol of Christianity, brought to Tumbes by the conqueror Francisco Pizarro. This day they celebrate his arrival to the city. |
| Anniversary of the Zarumilla Battle | (June the 24th) | Every year is commemorated one of the most important battles that faced Peru and Ecuador in 1941. The war hero and pilot José Abelardo Quiñones sacrificed during this battle in a heroic act without precedents in Peru’s history. Today his face is on the 10 soles bills. |
| San Pedro and San Pablo Patron Saints festival | (June 28th and 29th) | This festival is very important for the fishermen of the handmade small coves, since the saints are considered their protectors. Those days there are eucharistic activities, school parades, gastronomic fairs, dance competitions and the traditional route of the saints in a boat which goes through the main harbours, as Puerto Pizarro. |
| Tourist Week of Tumbes | (September the 21st to the 27th) | As other towns in Peru, Tumbes has a tourist week where the visitor can taste the distinguished dishes of the local gastronomy, observe the cultural activities as typical dances and listen to the local music, besides appreciating the best of its handicrafts. |
| Inmaculada Concepción festival | (December the 1st to 15th) | The festival lasts two weeks with lots of religious activities as masses, processions and other manifestations of the locals faith. There are social activities as serenades and recreation games. The central day is December the 8th. |