Crossing Boarders from Ecuador: We took the night bus from Guayguil in Ecuador (We were in Banos/Alausi, and we had to go to Guayguil for the buses into Peru) and crossed at the coastal boarder. It costed $20US pp from Guayguil to Mancora. The bus left at 7:20pm (also left in the day and 9:30pm & 11pm) and the bus took 9-10 hours (that includes the 2hr immigration wait at 1:30am ). We arrived in Mancora at 5:30am. There was tuk tuk's there & people offering hostels so arriving that early wasnt a problem.
Entering the Country: The immigration offices were the same, they had their desks together, so when you exit Ecuador you get stamped into Peru. There was no fee. 90 days tourist visa.
Leaving the Country: We are flying from Lima to Sydney.
Entering the Country: The immigration offices were the same, they had their desks together, so when you exit Ecuador you get stamped into Peru. There was no fee. 90 days tourist visa.
Leaving the Country: We are flying from Lima to Sydney.
BUDGET : In 17 days we spent $260 so far (add next ATM withdrawl) AUD between x2 people (Couple). So on Average we spent $57 AUD per person a day, including all Accommodation, Meals, Drinks, Transport, Shopping, & Activities/Tours.
Bank Withdrawals: 100US in Guayguil Bus terminal (80left over), 300 Soles Global Net Mancora,
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = 2,3 Peruvian Nuevo Soles $1US = 3,22 Peru Soles
Bank Withdrawals: 100US in Guayguil Bus terminal (80left over), 300 Soles Global Net Mancora,
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = 2,3 Peruvian Nuevo Soles $1US = 3,22 Peru Soles
Typical Foods of Peru :
Sour Pinto Ceviche Cuy Quinoa Porridge Aji de Gallina Seco de res Lombitos asado Drink Inca Kola |
People playing music on their phones on loud speaker in terminals and on the buses, anytime of night.
Brick wall houses wiyh glass on the top for secrutity Trucks with wooden posts as apposed to truck utes Bamboo scafholding Pharmacies are really cheap Lifestyle in Peru and other parts of the world is just like Australia. You have the richer cities and city lifestyles, rich businessmen, people with fancy cars, big houses and a lot of money. Then you have the middle class, suburban areas. Then the country people, in the mountains, or up and down the coast living closer off the land and a very modest and simple life. All families though still have in common, having work, rasing children, cooking meals, eating dinners, playing outside or on the streets, watching TV. |
MANCORA
We arrive at 5:30am from the night bus from Ecuador. There were tuk tuk drivers waiting to take us to hostels and people offering hostels as well. We paid $2USD for the tuk-tuk, which is 6soles, and the fare is only 1soles or 1,5 soles (.50-.75cAUD)
Bag of large Ice is 12,000 ($6AUD)
Packet of 2min noodles from .75c - $1.75c for 1 packet
Doritos packet200g $4.25
Crunch chocolate bar $3.50
Typicals from $3.50-$5
Cheapest noodles you can buy is .80c for 1 packet
Only use the GLOBAL NET ATM the other one on the highway took our money. We ran out of our travel money card and used my Commonwealth Debit Master card and got charged 14.50 soles ($7.25AUD)
ATM is just right walking out of LOKI Hostel on the main road
This place is SO HARD to get ICE. For our fresh juices they were charging tourists 12 soles a bag, locals 9 soles a bag.
BUT at Mi Mary shop , close to the mercado (Just before the Del Sur carpark) they sell small bags of ICE for only .50 Soles perfect amount for morning juices
Bought motion sickness pills for the bus and the pharmacies here were charging $1.10 AUD per tablet.
$1 for 4 passionfruits
$2 for a pineapple
.50c for x4 bananas
.65c for bag of rice
$1 for x4 tomatos
.50c for x2 carrots
.25c beetroot
Bag of large Ice is 12,000 ($6AUD)
Packet of 2min noodles from .75c - $1.75c for 1 packet
Doritos packet200g $4.25
Crunch chocolate bar $3.50
Typicals from $3.50-$5
Cheapest noodles you can buy is .80c for 1 packet
Only use the GLOBAL NET ATM the other one on the highway took our money. We ran out of our travel money card and used my Commonwealth Debit Master card and got charged 14.50 soles ($7.25AUD)
ATM is just right walking out of LOKI Hostel on the main road
This place is SO HARD to get ICE. For our fresh juices they were charging tourists 12 soles a bag, locals 9 soles a bag.
BUT at Mi Mary shop , close to the mercado (Just before the Del Sur carpark) they sell small bags of ICE for only .50 Soles perfect amount for morning juices
Bought motion sickness pills for the bus and the pharmacies here were charging $1.10 AUD per tablet.
$1 for 4 passionfruits
$2 for a pineapple
.50c for x4 bananas
.65c for bag of rice
$1 for x4 tomatos
.50c for x2 carrots
.25c beetroot
SLEEP
PK'S Hostel is on the beachfront of Mancora, prime position. It has very large private rooms with toilet, wifi and a basic kitchen. Has an upstairs area overlooking the waves, good for lying in the sun and watching the sunset. Only cold water showers here. We paid for 2 people in a private room with toilet $13AUD a night because we stayed 5 nights. This is one of the cheapest accom we have had and an amazing location on the beach! It isnt the most popular & wasnt booked out, but they play music in the day and night which is nice. A lot of Guns & Roses. Loki hostel is along the beach front as well as an entrance from the main road, about 100meters down the road from PK's. Loki is one of the well known & popular hostels through South America with a good vibe, loads of travelers and parties. The dorms here are $14AUD per person, there is Wifi, a chill out area, hot water and i think a kitchen? Privates were from $35-45. Kokopelli Hostel is also another well known popular backpackers in Peru having hostels in 4 locations. In Mancora they have dorms and privates, wifi, hot water, kitchen, a pool and breakfast included. It is located on the highway 150 meters walk to the Loki Hostel. They have 24hr reception & amazing art work. loads of travellers here with a vibe. Dorms starting from $15AUD and Privates from $40+ Runasimi Hostel is a very nice looking hostel that is located back on the main road, about a 300-400 meter walk to the beach. It has dorms, privates, wifi, kitchen, hot water & chill out area with tables and chairs hammocks on the balconies over looking the street, and breakfast included. Dorms are from 32soles ($15AUD) pp and Privates from 73 Soles ($36AUD). |
EAT & DRINK
The good people they are very close to PK's Hostel, along the beach front. They are open all day for surfboard hire & lessons and also for an amazing BBQ lunch and dinner, choice of fish, chicken or beef with rice and salads & juice for only $5. Awesome family run business. Western Food Restaurant close to the good guys closer to the main road heading to the main road. They sell burgers $3, sandwiches & main meals. Ceviche is all along the beach fronts and along the main road there are plenty of economico's that sell menu del dia's from 7 soles ($3.50AUD Mercado is about a 5 minute walk from the Loki Hostel, heading south. They sell fresh produce fruits, veggies, ceviche and meats in the mornings till about 1pm. All herbs and spices, garlics, basil, grains of quinoa, rice, beans the lot. As we had a kitchen in PK's Hostel we did some cook ups here and blended fresh juices daily. Lonely planet Check it out for tips of where to eat http://www.lonelyplanet.com/peru/north-coast/mancora/restaurants Trip advisor Always check for other good eats https://www.tripadvisor.com.pe/Restaurants-g635976-Mancora_Piura_Region.html#EATERY_OVERVIEW_BOX |
ATTRACTIONS
Surf there is a long left wave here, a reef break which most of the time has something. Also a lot of wind surfers out on good conditions. Horse riding along the beach you will find locals with there horses, especially around sunset time for a ride along the beach, for a very cheap price of less then $5AUD Fishing this is a large fishing town with boats going out to sea for 1-5 days, if you speak spanish then walk down to the end of the beach and ask a few fisherman if you can go on their boat for with an offer of a reasonable price. Mud Baths there is a natural hot spring in Fernández valley about 11kms east from main town. You can make your own way there by Moto taxi Whale watching can be done through the whale watching season from August and October in northern Peru. You can organise these tours from any agency along the highway. The Travel agent right on the corner of the road that leads to the beach is very good, nice lady. Lighthouse Sunsets can be done on your own, a very short walk of 10 minutes to the top of the red and white lighthouse from the main road, entrance in between the Loki and Runasimi Hostels |
CHICAMA
Very small remote and rural town rugged and dry, has about 6-7 roads blocks back from the beach inhabited with shops ect
Town still consist of hostels, restaurants, grocery shops, soccer court, school, pharmacy, hospital, mechanics, central park
Town still consist of hostels, restaurants, grocery shops, soccer court, school, pharmacy, hospital, mechanics, central park
SLEEP
Hostel Panchita is an awesome hostel, which is really a hotel/motel. They have privates room with bathrooms and balconies, wifi, hot water, but no kitchen and no travellers vibe. Rooms here are 25 Soles for the both of us. Cheapest in town. Just a couple of seconds walk to the cliff front. Has a roof top with ocean views. GOod for sunbathing and exercises. Burritos Hostel is along the cliff front which has an American owner with a restaurant down the bottom. He has enormous rooms with private bathrooms, wifi, hot water, kitchen and ocean views. Prices per person is 25 Soles but if there is two or more and you stay for longer he will do a good discount down to 15 soles pp and get your 5th night free. |
EAT
Its hard to say where to eat because not many of the restaurants here have names. Hole in the wall - if you are at the concrete soccer field walk up the street Typical on the corner near the bus station |
ATTRACTIONS
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HUANCHACO
ATM fees at the ATM next to Meri Hostel was 14.50 soles, more then usual.
Ben got sick the day before in Chicama and had a consultation in Huanchaco for only 7 Soles ($3.50AUD)
His 3 shots of Anti-histamines and 11 tablets from Funegra Pharmacy only costed $10AUD all up.
Enjoy the battle of the banter when i Trujillos Bus Terminal - they share the same shop windows and battle out the cheapest and best quality bus right next to each other
Had warnings one night from the Earthquake in Chile!
Ben got sick the day before in Chicama and had a consultation in Huanchaco for only 7 Soles ($3.50AUD)
His 3 shots of Anti-histamines and 11 tablets from Funegra Pharmacy only costed $10AUD all up.
Enjoy the battle of the banter when i Trujillos Bus Terminal - they share the same shop windows and battle out the cheapest and best quality bus right next to each other
Had warnings one night from the Earthquake in Chile!
SLEEP
Toto's House is awesome location, close to restaurants, beach and the mercado. Owned by a younger guy with a roof top terrace to watch the sunset. It has wifi, kitchen and hot water with private rooms for 15 soles pp. If you stay for a a couple of days and there's two of you he will allow 25 soles for the room Meri Hostel is a hostel is along the beach front and is popular. Has dorm beds and privates, with wifi and kitchen. |
EAT & DRINK
Mercado is around 6 blocks along the beach front from Toto's House then up a small street. Here is where to get fresh cheap produce for cooking or making fresh frappes or to get a cheap meal. Shop #32 has typicals including soup and plate with a juice for 5 Soles Shop #66 has plain rolls with chicken, or egg or lobitos (beef strips and hit chips) from 1 sole and fresh juices for 1 sole. Shop #16 is good to buy cheap veggies and herbs, small but get what you can there she is the cheapest. Shop #1 had the basil, herbs, cumin ect Shop #79 had yeast, spices ect (We cooked our own dough for pizza and made our tomatoe pizza base) Meri Hostel Restaurant is open for Breakfast and Lunch and has western food like waffles, bacon, grilled tomatos, coconut curries, falafels, tacos ect!! Menu Land is opposite the Toto's House Hostel. Menu has pesto spagetti for 7000 soles, burgers, italian & Menu del dias! Jano's Market/ Alfredo Restaurant - they have apple strudels for only .50c Australian and are delicious, eso if they are fresh in the morning! Chocolate Cafe which is located on the corner, close/ behind the Meri Hostel and they have amazing coffee, and also sell goods like french toast, milkshakes, wraps, omlettes, fondue, mains ranging from 8-15soles and deserts 6-10 soles! Dulce Nelly Bakery Trattoria Italian Bodega Primarea Sham Bar Beach front has a lot of seafood and ceviche! PERU IS KNOWN FOR THEIR CEVICHE |
OTHER
Budgets x9 Tomatos costed 2 soles Bunch handful of garlic 1 sole x3 chiles for .20 Bunch of spinach .50 soles 1kg of rice is 2.80 soles ($1.40) x1 chunk ginger .30c |
HUAYHUASH & HUARAZ & CHAVIN
LIMA
Transport to Lima is very easy
There are LOADS of bus companies to choose from the Puerto Bus Terminal in Trujilllo
We got a night bus from Trujillo to Lima, Bus left at 9:30pm and we arrived at 6am we went with Via Norte Company, double decker bus, comfortable seats semi recliner & toilet.
We paid 30 Soled pp. There were night buses to Lima prices starting 18soles up to 80Soles
We paid 1.20 soles pp at a desk and got the ticket stamped before hoping on the bus
Drinks sometimes are warm as they use the tap water and need to boil to kill any bacteria and turn it into warm drinks
Get the Lima map guide from the hostels to get you started
LIMA AIRPORT - i suggest if your on a budget to get food before entering security & immigration as all teh cafes, dehli's and restaurants are in USD and a cheap ham cheese sandwich in the fast food section in 8USD.
Laundry - was 5soels per kilo in Kokopelli so for 8 kilos which was our washing would have been 40 Soles, but down the road near Mercado 1 is Lalu Laundry service, and to fill up a large basket which our 8kilos fitted in was only 23 soles. AWESOME lady who owns it also who suggested we go to La Bistecca
There are LOADS of bus companies to choose from the Puerto Bus Terminal in Trujilllo
We got a night bus from Trujillo to Lima, Bus left at 9:30pm and we arrived at 6am we went with Via Norte Company, double decker bus, comfortable seats semi recliner & toilet.
We paid 30 Soled pp. There were night buses to Lima prices starting 18soles up to 80Soles
We paid 1.20 soles pp at a desk and got the ticket stamped before hoping on the bus
Drinks sometimes are warm as they use the tap water and need to boil to kill any bacteria and turn it into warm drinks
Get the Lima map guide from the hostels to get you started
LIMA AIRPORT - i suggest if your on a budget to get food before entering security & immigration as all teh cafes, dehli's and restaurants are in USD and a cheap ham cheese sandwich in the fast food section in 8USD.
Laundry - was 5soels per kilo in Kokopelli so for 8 kilos which was our washing would have been 40 Soles, but down the road near Mercado 1 is Lalu Laundry service, and to fill up a large basket which our 8kilos fitted in was only 23 soles. AWESOME lady who owns it also who suggested we go to La Bistecca
SLEEP
Kokopelli Hostel is located in Miraflores, the zone to be in when visiting Lima. Very funky, arty hostel with , 24 hour reception, wifi, hot water, kitchen, an upstairs common area & bar. Dorm beds you can get for as cheap as 26 soles on Sun mon and tues but then goes up to 38 soles other days (book on hostel world for cheaper days). Ekeko Hostel is one of the cheapest hostels in the Miraflores zone. Here is only 27 Soles for a dorm bed and privates from 47 pp. This place has 24hr reception, wifi, common area, hot water, kitchen & lockers. Address Garcia Calderon 274 Che Lagarto Hostel is another cheaper hostel dorms for 25 soles on cheap days and 30 on weekends, with all facilities of wifi, hot water, kitchen 24hrs, common area, roof top terrace with pool table, laundry service, lockers and tour tourist information, with breakfast buffet style included. Address Pasaje Schell 121, 3er Floor The Point Hostel which is located in barranco, another popular town only 10 min taxi from Miraflores. Barranco is where all the good restaurants are. Pariwana Hostel is located prime location in Miraflores. Dorms are from 39 soles. Popular party hostel with terrace, comm area, wifi, kitchen, bar, hot water & breakfast included. Flying Dog is another popular hostel that is in prime location in Miraflores with dorms from 35 soles, wifi, kitchen, common area, bar, hot water ect. |
EAT & DRINK
La Bistecca the best Rustica barranco all you can eat for only 40 Soels with an amazing selction! Through the day on Sundays and i think for dinner through the weeknights. All Peruvian food and flavours Tarboush La Lucha Mushrooms Edo Sushi down Berlin Calle walkinf from Kokopelli, you can get a plate for 57 Soles to share between x2 people. Also MAMGA Sushi lounge is popular with the all you can eat nights. Mercado 1 Shop #110 just outside the mercado 1 has typical for 6, 7 or 8 soles including the soup, plate and juice. They had chicken veggie clear broth soup, pesto spagetti with chicken sniztnal and wrm ginger juice when we went there. Here once again you can enjoy or cringe at them battle out the best menu to bypassers while they share the same sitting area and kitchen. Barranco: Bodiga Verde Drinks Houlinahs Nuevo Mundo Club 2 blocks towards Mcdonalds from Kokopelli |
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ALL YOU CAN EAT ~ La Bistecca
https://www.housecarers.com/advanced-search-find-housesit.cfm
iquito peru jungle?
Prominent Andean civilizations, with the Incas certainly the most notable.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g3463634-Activities-Santa_Teresa_Sacred_Valley_Cusco_Region.html
Kind of close to Machu Pichu
HISTORY
At one time Peru was the homeland of several prominent Andean civilizations, with the Incas certainly the most notable.
The incredible Incas built astonishing mountain temples, palaces and other buildings, all with no mortar; they constructed almost 10,000 miles of roads, engineered functional bridges and built aqueducts to transport their water.
At the zenith of the Inca's influence in 1532, the Spanish conquistadors arrived in their quest for gold and other riches; they executed the proud, but over-matched indigenous Indians and their leaders like ants, captured their cities - and in a brief period of time this innovative and powerful culture was scattered to the wind and all but destroyed.
For almost three hundred years Peru functioned as a Spanish colony, but in the early 19th century, native discontent and colonist revolts brought calls of independence, localized uprisings, and then, civil war in 1821, with the Spanish finally defeated in 1824.
Over the next century, or so, Peru suffered through many wars, some with neighbors; brutal dictatorial rule, military coups and the subsequent political upheaval that comes with the territory.
In 1980, Peru finally returned to democratic leadership, but even today, the new presidential administration is hampered by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
Regardless, the future is surely bright in this one-time "Land of the Incas," as Peru has an abundant supply of natural resources, enormous agricultural potential and some of the most stunning tourism venues on the planet.
Peru is home to one of the most impressive archeaological and tourist sites in the world, Machu Pichu. This Incan city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers unique insights into the lives of the Incan people. Machu Pichu is located 2,430 m. above sea level in a tropical mountain jungle.
GEOGRAPHY
Capital City: Lima (7,605,742 pop.)
(8,472,935 metro)
Language: Spanish 84.1% (official), Quechua 13% (official), Aymara 1.7%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages 0.7% (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages), other
Religion: Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or none 2.9%
Currency: Peru Nuevo Sol (PEN)
(conversion rates)
Largest Cities: (by population) Lima, Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Huancayo, Piura, Chimbote, Cuzco
Highest Point: Nevado Huascaran - 22,205 ft.
(6,768 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
The rugged Andes Mountains cover almost 40% of Peru. Hundreds of snowcapped peaks jut skyward here, with many exceeding 20,000 ft. Fronting the Andes - from Ecuador to Chile - there's an arid and rocky narrow coastline; in essence, it's a sandy mountainous desert dissected by dozens of small rivers that flow into the Pacific.
In the east, the Andean Highlands slope gently down into the rivers and jungles of the Amazon; a heavily forested, relatively flat area, that stretches to its borders with Brazil and Chile. The lowest part of Peru is in the far northeast; here the fertile land and jungles are irrigated by tributaries of the massive Amazon River.
And speaking of rivers, Peru is drained by many, including the Apurimac, Maranon, Napo and Ucayali - to name but a few. Note that Peru shares control of Lake Titicaca with Bolivia, the world's highest navigable lake.
TRAVEL
Cordillera Huayhuash of the Andes...
Mountain lagoon in Peru
Peru offers the most impressive mountain vistas in all of South America, as well as remnants of its Inca culture and Spanish colonial history.
Major points-of-interest include the sleek and modern, yet historically preserved capital city of Lima; the fascinating city of Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, and the nearby ruins at Machu Picchu; interesting national parks; Lake Titicaca, the Amazon Rainforest and Andean mountain tours.