February 11, 2017 | Leave a comment Why would I wrap a long trip anywhere other than the beach? Practicing wave-catching and the warmth of restorative napping were interrupted with green juices, omelettes, hash browns, seafood. I knew I would miss the low prices of dining out so I let the gringo in me indulge. I tried to get in the ocean twice a day and it felt wonderful. So did the thermal mud baths. Máncora Getting There and Away An overnight bus took me from Huaraz to Trujillo for $13.43. From Trujillo, another sleep on a bus put me in Máncora the following morning, $11.34. Daily busses run between all cities and Lima. Trujillo and Huanchaco Day 101 Enjoy the historic pastels in the streets and the northern cuisine in the markets! Keep an eye out for delicious blueberries, one of the greatest fruits of all time in my opinion. I took a micro to stop by Huanchaco for a of couple hours in honor of Marcela‘s first Workaway. If my visit hadn’t been at the butt end of my summer break, I would definitely spend more days in this beach town. Bluebs, goat and beans (a northern dish), and ceviche- Trujillo market finds and all mine!! Fishing boats of Huanchaco. High altitude trekking in Huaraz won’t stop me from practicing in the water the next day! Basura en el cangrejo porfa. Getting a trenza braid in Tienda del Sol. We talked about dieting and Harry Potter before I purchased earrings and anklets. Máncora Days 102-107 I find party hostels to be only worth the trouble if I’m already traveling with people, but not so much for meeting people. I stayed back, befriended both backpackers taking lessons and real surfers in the water, and enjoyed my last Pisco sour in a more local side of the night life. I rented my surf board from Esau who manages the company by Green Eggs and Ham Restaurant. He took a Dutch sibling duo and I to the Zorritos mud baths. He struck a cheap deal with the tuk-tuk driver for the 40 minute ride. Thermal and therapeutic, we immersed in the slimy goodness until sundown, when we returned to the beach and ordered grill from a display case of fresh seafood. Zorritos mud baths The most magical moments were when the water would suddenly fill with gleaming silver fish. They would surround us in endless masses, calm and still enough to convince me that I was hallucinating. Oh, and since this post seems to belong on a foodie blog, I’ll never forget biting into an angus beef patty was topped with shrimp, bacon, avocado, and not one, but two eggs. Green juices and pesto omelettes at Green Eggs and Ham. Hands down the best spot for brunch cravings. Esau introduced us to the grills and treated us to beers and juice. The backpackers holed up and only dining in hostels have no idea what they’re missing. Snacking. Snacking. Porncake Sunday- a fine stack of banana pancakes at Green Eggs and Ham. Teaching Raul how to use a Go Pro. Twice a day is twice a day. El Faro- The lighthouse behind the city offers the best sunset view. Raul took me on a five minute sandy scramble. The entire Mancora in a shot- the town was a noisy strip rising straight out of the Panamerican Highway with both Peruvian and international tourists, but I was ready for a vacation and didn’t care. One of the days a rotting seal floated by the beaches. Esau said the fishermen poison them because they disrupt the fishing lines set up. SURFER BURGER Green Eggs and Ham brunch balcony. Pesto omelette and battered sweet potato fries after surfing and a shower. Me, every day. Pisco sours and sleepy puppers. Hydrate or die. Hydrate or die. Armed with bus snacks. Back on that Panamerican Highway. Day 108 Properly exhausted to the bone. Homesick like I wouldn’t believe. I made it to the airport out of breath and on my last 10 Peruvian soles. I was so thankful to still be the intact and functioning human being that I was before I had left. I boarded the plane, taking with me all the intangible gifts this journey had bestowed upon me.