Here comes the sun
Trip Start
Aug 29, 2007
1
7
17
Trip End
Aug 12, 2008
Mancora, Peru
Sunday, February 17, 2008
In the first week of February, we had four days of a work for carnival plus the weekend, giving us 6 days to travel. Ranna, Sarah and I decided the head to Mancora on the coast of Peru, which is about 8 to 10 hours from Cuenca. Mancora is known for being sunny all year around. Since we have not really had much luck finding sun in the beaches of Ecuador we were ready for a sunny beach weather in Peru.
We decided the leave for Mancora on Thursday night bus ,so we would cross the border of Peru in the moring. We first had to take a bus to Manchela which is about three to four south of Cuenca, then we had to take another bus to goes to Tumbes, Peru. We arrive in Machela at 3 am and found the bus station that went to Peru. We asked some men waiting when the next bus came. They were telling us we can take a carro, which means 2 level bus, but we thought they were telling us to pay for a car to take us to Peru. So we ended up missing the last bus to Tumbes.
The next bus to Tumbes was not going to come until 8:30am.We did not know what to do. There was another bus to the border coming in one hour. We did not know if we should wait 5 hours in the bus station for the direct bus that takes you to both immigrations of Ecuador and Peru . The bus then waits for you to get your passport stamped. The Ecuador immigration is 3 km before the border . The Peruvian immigration is another 3 km once you cross the border. Once you get into Peru it is another 45 mins to Tumbes, where you can get the bus to Mancora. So a direct bus would be the best way to do it.
We have heard so many stories about crossing the border. We have heard how scary and dangerous it can be crossing here. We really did not wait to from 5 hours at the bus station, so we said "Let's just do it" (cross the border on our own). I have crossed many different borders of several different countries before. I thought it could not be that bad.
We hopped on the next bus to the border which took about another 2 hours. We had the bus drop us off at Ecuador's immigration. Once all our passport stuff was sorted out ;we flag down another bus and paid $0.50 to take us to the border. It was about 6:30 am but the time we got to the border. We walked across the border and found a taxi to take us to immigration, then to Tumbes.We went to immigration in Peru.We had no problems. Since it was so early, in the morning, there were no lines. We had make it across the border successfully. We thought it was easy and felt safe. We were also prepared cause we have exchanged many before arriving. If you change money at the border is mostly to be fake.
It took us another hour to get to Tumbe from there we were able to get a bus to Mancora for $3.It took another 2 hours to get to Mancora from Tumbes. We finally arrived in Mancora on Friday morning at 10am.We were welcomed to Mancora with rain. What? We had been travelling all night sleeping on buses and arrived in the place where it is sunny all year to rain. We were so disappointed. We found a place to stay, that a friend recommended, for $5 a night. We got relaxed and had some food in hopes that the sun would come out. We were still trying to be very positive at this point.
By the time we were done with lunch, the clouds began to part and the sun come shining through! We could not have been happier. We spend the rest of the day hanging out on the beach and enjoying the sunshine. That evening we had a early night and wanted to be well rested for the next day.
We got up early Saturday morning and spent the whole day at the beach just relaxing, reading, swimming in the ocean, playing Frisbee, drinking beer and watching the sunset. We could not have asked for a better time. That evening, we meet up with some girls from Cuenca that we know, to go out for some drinks and dancing. Mancora is a really small beach town. There is one main road, and there is about 4 or 5 bars to go to. Everything get stated really last there. The people like hanging out drinking in the streets. There was a lot of people there. It was kind of chaotic. At one point in the night I was told that someone's throat had been cut and was being dragged in the street. I did not see it, but we left once we heard with had happened. The other girls that we were with ,did see it and say it was pretty a bad seen.
The next day I was so hungover cause, I really have not been drinking since the new year. We spend the day on the beach and shopping. There have the cutest market there, which tons of cool jewels to chose from. I got a necklace and a ring.
On Monday we headed back to Cuenca, but this time we had the direct bus and so it was easier crossing the border.The bus waited for us.I had a great time in Mancora.I was sad to leave the beach. It was so nice to have some time to get out of Cuenca.I love to see new places, plus nothing is better than spending 4 days on a sunny beach. I am going to back to Mancora again, for sure.
We did all get a little sick once we got back from Peru. We all had some tummy problems that lasted a few days.
Comments
Hi from New Jersey
Hi Stella,
I'm busying finishing up my internship and wanted to share with you the good news that Steven and I are engaged! He flew to NJ for Valentine's Day and proposed to me on Saturday Feb 16 at the beach (or the 'shore' as they call it here). I'm so excited!
Thank you for writing such detailed entries to keep us all connected. Are you going to visit Machu Pichu?
Cuidate,
Catherine