Mancora

Two weekends ago we traveled North to the lovely beach town of Mancora. The weather was perfect and we had sunny days our entire time there. Our hostel was right by the ocean (literally, walking out the back door you're walking in sand). The town is essentially one main street with lots of hostels, restaurants, shops and plenty of places to rent surfboards. On the beach there are people selling snacks, cold drinks, ice cream, jewelry, horse back riding lessons, and the owners of beach side restaurants walk around with menu so your can order (and get delivery) right from your spot in the sand.
All of the restaurants had great fixed menus (appetizer and main dish + drink) so being on the beach I had fish in all of its forms. Pescado frito or fried fish, pescado a la chorillana or fried fish with sauteed onions and tomatoes, chicharron de pescado or bits of breaded and fried fish, chaufa de mariscos or fried rice with bits of shrimp, tiradito or fish in lime juice with aji (a spicy chile), and ceviche or tiradito with onions. All washed down with delicious maracuya or passion fruit juice. Yum.

 (Image from the web but my plate looked like this plus french fries and minus the fancy red pepper action on the rice tower. Rice is always served in a little bowl/mound shape.  )

(Ceviche in Huanchaco, but it's the same idea. Potato on the top left and yuca on the bottom. Coke with real sugar too!)
We also visited a nice vegetarian restaurant called Angela's started by an Austrian woman, the restaurant's namesake. I had some great falafel and a very flavorful curry with rice and veggies.
During our weekend there we missed the earthquake in Lima, which we ended up hearing about a few days after it happened.