At the bridge leading into Máncora [1], a rutted dirt road meets the new highway. This was the Panamericana, but El Niño rains washed away its paved surface, leaving it irregular and bumpy.
That said, some very good accommodation lies down the road in Las Pocitas. Named after the sand pools that form around the beach rocks when the tide goes out, Las Pocitas is a string of compact hotel resorts.
This area is only accessible via Máncora [1] (10 minutes) or Vichayito [2] (30 minutes). During the day, mototaxis constantly pass between Máncora and Las Pocitas. The ride is US$1.50. At night, however, the mototaxis concentrate in Máncora, making it easy to find transportation back to Las Pocitas but more difficult to find a mototaxi into town.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/the-northern-beaches/mancora
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/the-northern-beaches/vichayito