Off to Mancora, Peru 1/5/08 thru 1/8/08

Still Work in Progress, please check back for completion....

So are you wondering about this mess? We were in an Internet Cabina at the Loja bus station before we left for Peru.
Christina asked if she could use the bathroom and the girl said sure. Christina came out the bathroom laughing hysterically and made me take a picture of this "User Friendly Facility"
















The journey across the Peruvian border was okay. Took an overnite bus and they're kinda sketchy. Guards stop the bus every now and then, walk thru staring at everyone, sometimes remove people, etc.....Customs at the border was interesting also. Quickly go to one station on this side of the bridge.....bus goes across the bridge and hurry through 2 more stations on the opposite sides of the street....hurrying to make sure you're not left behind. The print on the forms is so tiny and in a light grey font.....All at the wee hours of the morning (2-3 am).


Peru
Magic, sand, waves and relaxation summarize the feeling of the beaches located in the north department of Piura and Tumbes, north coast of Peru. These beaches have in common several characteristics that make this area and beach paradise:

•Sun all year long
•Beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming and relaxation. - Nice temperatures without humidity
•Warm sea in summer and in some winter months (especially on the beaches located north of Cabo Blanco).
•Incredible waves for surfing and good wind for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
•Amazing marine life


Mancora
Located on the kilometer 1165 of the Panamerican Highway (Panamericana Norte), this little fishermen village is on the north limit of Piura Department. Mancora offer hotels, hostels and restaurants for all pockets and tastes. We arrived in time to catch the finals of the 2008 Chevrolet Surf Competition.



Christina’s friend, Jose Botta met us in Mancora. They actually met in Baltimore, Salsa dancing at Gardel’s. Jose was a blast and we all had a lot of laughs. So, as you see the accommodations here are rivaling Quito, but…..hey – it’s cheap and near the beach. Actually, this room was much better than the first one they put us in - which was right next to the back of a bar with Septic work going on right in front of the door.

Punta Sal
Located 79 kilometers south of Tumbes and 23 kilometers north from MancoraThe entrance to Punta de Sal is located in the 1187 km of the North Pan-American Highway. From Mancora I’s only 15 minutes in a private vehicle – aka “Moto-Taxi”. jajaja

Poza de Barro (mud thermal bath):
We stopped at the Poza De Barro on our way back from Punta Sal. Poza De Barro is a natural Baño (mud thermal bath - actually luke-warm) and is located in what seemed to be an endless, barron stretch of land (see map). It took us about 30 minutes on a very bumpy ride via moto taxi to reach this natural Baño. While we were making our way there, I noticed that there was A LOT of mule and goat poop everywhere.

Well I have to say that this thermal bath was quite a contrast from what I thought was a seemingly primitive treatment in Vilcabamba (although I really am NO expert as this is the first time I’ve ever had this sort of spa treatment). The smell is certainly an eye opener, especially after digging for a handful of clay and slathering it all over – face included……I started to wonder where all that mule/goat poop gets dumped! And another thing…. Where was the lady armed with a hose to wash this stuff off? LOL! We laughed so much this day that my stomach was sore. Good Times.