Travel to Mancora Peru from Guayaquil, Ecuador

drtaamc · Since 24 Jul 2008 120 Posts Stoked

Hey, is there anyone out there with experience traveling with Kite and Surf gear from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Mancora, Peru. My wife and I are heading that way in June. It seems like there are bus lines that run the route from Guayaquil to Mancora, but only one has a useable website and they don't have a bus running on the day we want to travel. This bus line is Cruz del Sur. They look like they have a nice set up, but we hate to spend an extra day in Guayaquil waiting for a bus. The other bus line websites aren't very helpful, so that's why I'm looking for some help.

I'm bringing a 8' surf bag with 2 boards(one surf, one kite) and a twintip. Are there any problems getting these on the buses?

Last question. Stay in Mancora and road trip to Lobitos OR go and stay in Lobitos?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Erik

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

pm CrazyC he did that border crossing via bus and lived to tell

SoCam · Since 27 Jul 2011 29 Posts Ventura CA

florider · Since 17 Oct 2013 10 Posts north bend,or

ive done it with three surfboards and didnt have a problem. you'll pay a little more for xtra for gear and being a gringo, but other than that its not that bad. there are several lines out of Guayaquil, any travel agent there can book you on a trip the next day. i just told the taxi to take me the the station with the long range buses, found a line than went on was off all in the same morning. Buses are plentiful and you can get some plush ones.
Buenas suerte.

ericvs · Since 05 Jul 2008 133 Posts Stoked

Yea, I did this a couple years ago. I didn't feel like hauling my gear across town to the bus station, so I found a private driver who took us from Guayaquil to Mancora. Was pretty pricey, but door to door action. Drive was about 8 hours though at night and at about 80mph. sketch. The small towns you go through set-up these impromptu speed bumps to try and catch you off guard. Our driver almost missed a few, some panic braking ensued and adrenaline was flowing, haha

The other thing that happened when we were in Peru, was the Equadorian military tried to overthrow the govt and there was a riot when the police tried to stop them. the border was closed for a couple days and we weren't sure if we could have left peru (not all bad, but still)

If I had to do it again, I would just fly into Piura, Peru and take the 2 hour taxi from there. Soo much easier.

Stay in Mancora, day trip to Lobitos. There are a couple of kite 'schools' in town who will do day trips.

Macora is DOPE! you will have fun.

dpow · Since 13 May 2011 83 Posts Seattle, WA

I just did this trip in May, no kite gear though.

We ended up waiting around in the bus station all day because the Cruz Del Sur bus wasnt running that day. Wasn't so bad we just took the next bus which was late that night. ended up in Mancora around 4am and took a moto to a hostel. Its hard to tell when the buses run, but you will make it.

s1sky · Sat Jan 18, 14 8:12 am

hello! i have a business and lived in Mancora for some time..actually still spend a fair amount of time there as we still have our business in town!..getting around by bus is very easy.. there are a ton of bus lines. the best ones from Guayaquil there is Ormeno that is the most frequent, Oltursa and as everyone has mentioned Cruz del Sur. they are daily from the main station in guayaquil...I would suggest booking what is called "bus cama" this will give you a seat that almost reclines to a bed and give great "personal space"..

as for where to stay..when in north peru..sounds like you are going to surf and kite..so i would split the time between Lobitos and Mancora..or..even just play it by ear with the conditions and the crowd. It is much easier to get a guide out of Mancora to take you to some of the waves for kiting and surfing that are not busy.. Lobitos is 1 hour away..in the past the day trip there was needed to almost necessary as there were not that many accommodations...in the past 3 years lobitos has undergone a boom so to speak with everything from rustic bungalows, surf camps to pretty decent accommodations. It is nice when you have surfed all day or kited and you can just roll into your place rather than jump in a car or van for an hour drive..

added a little photo for you of what south swell offers in the north of Peru!

have a great trip!! and i am happy to try to answer any other questions you might have!

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Peru is wonderful. People are great and food is wonderful. But be VERY careful about where you put your stuff on the bus. It is not at all uncommon to have your belongings pilfered if you put them in the "overhead luggage bin" for lack of a better term. Have a blast!

drtaamc · Since 24 Jul 2008 120 Posts Stoked

Hey thanks everyone for the information. It helps a lot. Erik