New "comfy" route between Ecuador and Peru

For the longest time, the cheapest/best option between Guayaquil, Ecuador and Mancora, Peru had been CIFA's night bus. A double-decker, the seats span 4 across (a bit tight) but with a fair bit of recline in the seat and not bad leg room for anyone under 6 feet tall.

But the bus is aging, the prices escalating, and the options continue to confuse. What confuses most is knowing when the "right" CIFA bus departs. You don't want to find yourself traveling on anything other than the double decker which travels strictly at night (and direct) for speedier travel. The others make constant and random stops to pick up people along the way - often after a hard day's work they holding onto the railing above your seat exposing a worker's armpit within your olfactory range. Worse still, your sleep is interrupted with an overwhelming urge to watch your bag stowed overhead against the potential theiving handsof the many on and off passengers.

KSP World Tour in Pacasmayo

The KSP World Tour is a professional tour for kitesurfers specializing in wave riding. The KSP tour is sanctioned by the IKA (International Kiteboard Association) which is a subset of the ISAF (International Sailing Federation).

This year the tour visits Pacasmayo, Peru with pro riders like Guilly Brandao (BRA), Youri Zoon (NED), Abel Lago (ESP), Sky Solbach (USA), and Mark Shinn (GBR), the event should be packed with excitement and unforgettable wave-riding. Running October 19 through 28, 2011, the event is gratefully sponsored by Perukite and El Faro Resort, amongst others.

The Ocean giveth and taketh

Máncora's 3rd malecón is at risk of falling in the ocean.
Certainly it is a lovely and well constructed malecón (a sea wall and promenade), funded by MINCETUR, Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Unfortunately, it seems doomed to the unforgiving ocean - the same fate of the prior two malecónes. The elephant in the room: why would they have built another promenade in the same place where two others had fallen?

Remnants of the old malecon the was swallowed by the sea are a
reminder of why building close to shore is usually a bad idea...

Some locals will shyly admit that Roberto Carlos is to blame. Asking who is Roberto Carlos is the wrong question - rather one should ask 'what is' Roberto Carlos... Roberto Carlos is a pseudonym given to corruption or robbery and this is what many locals will quietly suggest. Specifically, that the town of Máncora earns money given by the government to construct Malecónes they know will require more funds to shore up, then eventually replace. Whether it is corruption or stupidity that has led to the impending 3rd disaster one thing is certain - it is an embarrassment.

Mancora Live! Launches Very Soon

Intended as a 32 page full-color quarterly, the magazine will be distributed throughout Peru and Ecuador with a distribution of 250,000.

Using content from travelers and fans of Mancora [ http://www.facebook.com/ilovemancora ] the magazine reaches a 16 - 34 age set, a bit fresh but not too wordy. It will feature nightlife, beachlife, sports, events, and entertainment found locally and around this throbbing little surf town.