Mancora
After over two months at altitude in the cold Andes, we were more than ready to hit the beach as get our tans back but the journey from southern Peru to the north where the glorious beached are is long!
From Isla del Sol we took a bus across the border to Puno and from there onto Arequipa. We stayed two nights in Arequipa and arranged flights to Lima which saved us a 16hr bus journey. From Lima airport we went straight to the bus station and took a bus for 15 hr north to Piura. After one night in Piura and a quick walk around the pretty yet uneventful town we headed to the surf town of Mancora.
Mancora is only 2 hours from the Ecuadorian border and enjoys warm weather all year around. The town is very popular for Peruvian as well as international travellers, but while it is very touristy it still has a relaxed vibe. The surf is amazing all year around and when the wind picks up kite surfers hit the water. We were tempted to join them but it was a little too choppy for us.
We stayed a couple of nights in a beach bungalow, 10 mins walk from the town centre. The bungalow was only one of four, creating a real community feel. At night we would all sit around having a few beers and there was an occasional communal BBQ. The bungalows also came with 5 dogs, once stays who decided to stay on and are now part of the furniture. The most unusual dog as called Pilado (meaning bald headed) a hairless Peruvian dog. The dogs were reared by the Incas and originally lived in the Amazon where in the humid environment having no hair was an advantage. However, the harsh sun of the beach dries out their skin and also gives them sun burn. Another problem is that when the sun goes down, without any fur the dogs get very cold. I ended up giving Pilado one of my spare t-shirts one night to make him a little more comfortable. The poor thing had also developed tumors and was going to be put down the following week. It was a pity because the dog had the sweetest disposition and was very affectionate. He loved getting under his chin rubbed despite the strange sensation patting a hairless dog.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
From Mancora we took a bus to Ecuador and the city of Guayaquil. Gualaquil is the economic hub of Ecuador and where much of the industry is based. The city its self is not unusually pretty but they have done a great job on their waterfront. Considering Ecuador’s economy is not as developed as many in the West, the promenade is literally stunning and puts Auckland’s waterfront to shame. The waterfront was revamped in the early 2000s at a cost of 80 million dollars. The public space runs for 2.5 kms along the Rio Guaysa and features a variety of designated areas. The gardens and walk ways are constantly maintained, immaculately kept and completely litter free which is a rarity in South America.
The promenade features bars, restaurants, cafes, ice cream kiosks, playgrounds, viewing platforms, squares, water features, nature gardens, fish ponds and an educational centre. While $80 million seems like a phenominal amount of money, you can see where every penny is spent.
We only spent one day in Guyaquil so didn’t get a chance to see anymore of the city. Our bus arrived into Guyaquil at 5am on Monday morning and by 12 noon we had booked a last minute deal for a Galapagos cruise. We flew out the very next morning for 8 days of pure Galapogos heaven but thats another blog.