Gulls Feeding in Mancora

Here is a video clip I took from the balcony of our hotel in Mancora. It was a double room I hasten to add that was cheaper than the cost of two dorm beds in the hostel a mile down the beach, far from any bars or restaurants.

We met some interesting people sitting in thr cheap restaurants on the beach at the corner of the town. The places were basically big tents with tables and chairs. They served cold beer and cheap set meals. By early evening the clientele shifted from tourists eating to the 'getting pissed on the beach' crew of locals and visitors. We saw this all over South America, especially at the weekend - gangs of people boozing, shouting and listening to salsa music. I think the cheapest beach beer I found was $1 for a large beer in Equator.

Anyway, Mancora is in Peru. It seems unusual for Peru as it feels tropical - it is squeezed into the north west coast, an hour from the Ecuadorian border. It is a fun city for  Peru, and more fun for me than the dumb oasis town of Huacachina.

Humpback Whales in Ecuador

This was one of the highlights of our trip. Something about seeing big animals up close that is truly inspiring. The video clip below was taken in the Manchalilla National Park in Ecuador, which is sometimes called "the poor man's Galapagos'.

After doing a few such excursions, treks and trips you come to realize that much of the time the animals aren't willing to co-operate. You might get a glimpse of them, but it is so fleeting that it is unsatisfying. These monster humpback whales in Ecuador surprised us by being so unconcerned about our little tour boat trundling along parallel to them. They seemed so joyously wrapped up in being whales in the mating season - splashing and diving and lifting their huge tail fins. Brilliant. 

The whole trip including lunch and a walking tour of a bird colony only came to about $30. It was worth it. Obviously not as animal-tastic as going to the Galapagos islands; but still full on. Besides, as I've mentioned before, there is an irritating smug factor about going to the Galapagos islands that puts me off wasting the thousands of dollars. People confuse going to special places with them being special people. Charles Darwin managed both - bless that long bearded Victorian that American God-lovers have come to despise.