Mancora advice: fly into ecuador or lima/airline experience?

marina · Since 16 Jan 2006 150 Posts California coast Stoked

hey guys,
trying to make a trip happen to mancora next month -- my first semi real vacation in 7 years since we started The Kiteboarder and am totally psyched as I'm goofy footer!

Have some q's that I'm hoping those that have traveled there can help me with;

Fly into lima or guayaquil? leaning toward GYE as seems like will get there sooner, even if border issues.

Any suggestion on airline or ones to avoid? Best airfare and times is with Copa but online reviews are pretty scary.

Any rip off airport schemes to be aware of/watchful of?

Anybody know bus schedule from GYE to Mancora? I've gotten conflicting info from people and online. Some say only two evening buses, some throughout day, some shitty bus, some same is lima super luxury bus, one website said 11p is best bus to take for comfort?

Best sized surfboard to take for conditions?

Best kite size for 130 pound girl?

Any other travel tips would be highly appreciated!

Nak · Wed Sep 22, 10 3:18 pm

Hi Marina! I hope you have a great trip! Very Happy

I can't help too much, but I will say try and stick with a major carrier like Delta or American. I have no idea if the Peruvian airlines are as bad as the Venezuelan airlines, but I wouldn't take the chance if I didn't have good information. Flew a Venezuelan airline this winter. Excepting malfunctions and bad weather, first time in 30 years of flying that I wondered if we'd survive the flight. The pilots were just that bad.

knuckledragger · Since 01 Aug 2010 14 Posts

I flew Copa 3 years ago and never had a problem. Went into Lima which was a breeze. Seemed more reliable than flying back east.
Have a great trip

Sella · Thu Sep 23, 10 6:32 am

Marina, Lima is nice. Modern, organized and great food. I do LAN Chile from LAX to Lima every quarter and have never had a problem with gear. I fly Copa from Argentina into Central America quarterly with never a problem....but definitely a little more sketch of an airline compared to Lan.

Alaska Air is a LAN partner if you have the miles etc to transfer as LAN is pushing a lot of deals right now.

Regarding bus...taking the luxury one. Double decker, fully reclining seats and typically not much more in price.

Enjoy your trip. Suarte.

marina · Since 16 Jan 2006 150 Posts California coast Stoked

Thanks everybody for your help!

Booked tickets today and am flying to one of the airports closer to mancora to avoid the bus ride.

FYI, right now tripadvisor has flights to lima for $500 and Guayaquil for $614!

Cannot reccomend highly enough the people who are helping me out;

jose from www.perukite.com We will be spending 2 days in Paracas, just 2.5 hours from lima to check it out

Gary from Samana Chakra (also new brand mgr for LF) www.samanachakra.com I like hot water and not to be in middle of party action so can sleep and do some dawn patrols:-)

Skip from www.perukitecamp.com I just had five friends book with Skip and they had the time of their lives with him. I know skip from Cabarete and he is awesome and will be helping dial us into best surf and kite spots for the conditions.

super stoked! Come on down! Tonia is also doing her clinic in mid November which will be awesome as well!!!!

Ataud_Verde · Since 04 Oct 2009 36 Posts 40.59°N 73.86°W

Marina,

I stumbled upon Mancora when it was still a well kept secret so my info is a bit outdated. It was 2004, I was on the road from Quito (Ecuador) all the way to southern Patagonia, always traveling by bus (350 bus/hours in 8 months). 1 kite (fuel9) 1 surfboard. Mancora had none of the shishi places yet, just a few run down hostels and the one place with no sign on the beach- Smile

Here you have some ramblings..

I don't recommend to fly to Guyaquil. The town is almost as bad (in terms of crime) as Lima AND you have to cross the border which is where all the scum of both countries tends to congregate. The border itself is set up in a way to allow plenty of opportunities for said scum to take advantage of travelers. (Note: I speak perfect Spanish & I don't look like a gringo --still Tumbes is the one place, in over 7 years of extensive solo traveling through Central and South America, that got me- Wink

A cab ride from Guayaquil to Mancora is more expensive than a plane ticket Lima/Mancora (and you don't have to deal with the border and the other hazards of overland traveling).

Long distance buses from Guyaquil drop off foreigners at the border on the Ecuadorian side (even the luxury ones and even if you had already paid for the ride all the way to Lima- Smile

) they don't tell you when you board the bus, of course. You look around and realize there is a bridge to cross (on foot) to get to Peru..

.. but 4/5 days per week the bridge is closed and you have to walk through the market (euphemism) where local scums (from age 5 up) have plenty of opportunity to take advantage of you..
Note: the closure of the bridge is a social/political form of welfare demanded by local population- Wink

Then you have to take a cab for a about 1.5 miles to the immigration (that is after they got you)

Safest option is to take a plane to Mancora from Lima (not sure now, but up to a few years ago basically you had to wait almost the whole day at the airport --I wouldn't go around dragging all the equipment).

Tip: If you take a cab ask the driver to lock the trunk (and watch him do it), keep the windows closed, seat in the middle of the back seat and keep your small bag(s) under your feet.

Second best is to take the bus. Go for the luxury one as it is a LOOOONG ride. Long distance buses travel overnight. Always.
Window seat is best:
a) you can see the scenery (the next morning) and
b) you can put your valuables to your (protected) side (that is the side of the window).
Tip: tie your bag to your leg/arm when you sleep.

Make sure you get receipts for your bags (and keep them safe).

Small dollar bills are accepted everywhere but make sure they are new (even banks won't take US$ that have cuts, pen marks, tape, are worn etc.).

Only banks or hotels will accept 50 and 100 dollar bills (watch them carefuly when they are handled, if they disappear for more than a couple of seconds chances are they will not be the same when they get back to you- Smile

)

Have fun,

Gianni

More tips:

IF you decide to stop for a couple of days in Lima on your way back and treat yourself a 5 star hotel, and IF you decide to have your valuables stored in the hotel safety (whether or not in a locked/closed bag) make sure to write down on a sheet of paper the serial number of any dollar bill (from 20 up) and have the manager of the hotel sign the list. Check the numbers when you retrieve your belongings to make sure the bills are the same.

The chain attached to the back/side of the chairs in bars and restaurants in Lima and other (fairly( big cities is for your bag: use it.

marina · Since 16 Jan 2006 150 Posts California coast Stoked

wow. super useful info. thanks so much Gianni.

We ended up booking tickets to fly into Piura, 2.5 hours away.

We will stay for two days in Paracas with Jose from peru kite and maybe paraglide/sightsee

then 10 days in Mancora and surrounding areas

Sounds like theft is huge problem there so we will be extra careful. Maybe I need to get a money belt for the first time ever in 20 years of third world travel!

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

crime is a problem I have a peurvian friend and thought he might want to take me their. He said their is to much crime and he has been mugged at gun point and does not want to go back for a vacation.