North Coast - Peru - page 744

with fabulous terraces complete with sink-into couches. It also offers deep-sea fishing
trips for S2183 per day in a boat that will take up to six anglers.
The 23 ocean-view rooms at Hotel Caballito de Mar ( 54-0048;
www.hotelcaballitodemar.com ; s/d per person incl full board from S95.50/191;
) literally climb up the sea cliff and have pretty bamboo accents and private patios. As
you climb from the sea, prices go down, but views get better. Hit the restaurant, bar,
Jacuzzi, games room and the gorgeous pool that practically dips its toe into the sea. Activ-
ities such as fishing, boating and waterskiing can be arranged. Air-con is S50 per day ex-
tra.
One of the few budget options on this beach, the English-run Las Terrazas de Punta
Sal ( 50-7701; www.lasterrazasdepuntasal.com.pe ; s/d without bathroom S25/50, r
from S80; ) has solid rooms inside the main house, as well as some poky small bam-
boo rooms at the back. The terrace restaurant here has awesome sunset views and wood-
fired brick-oven pizza. They were renovating and doing a major cleanup on our visit - ex-
pect good beach value for your soles .
Regular minibuses run between Máncora and Punta Sal (S3, 30 minutes).
Zorritos
072 / POP 9400
About 35km south of Tumbes, Zorritos is the biggest fishing village along this section of
coast. While the thin beach here isn't as nice as beaches further south, it is home to inter-
esting coastal birdlife . Look for frigate birds, pelicans, egrets and other migratory birds.
At Km 1235 is Grillo Tres Puntas Ecohostel ( 79-4830; campsites S15, r with/
without bathroom per person S50/20, all incl breakfast; ) , constructed (mainly
by volunteers) from natural materials such as bamboo and cane. Everything here, includ-
ing water, is recycled. Breezy, rustic cabins with balconies and hammocks sit on the beach
and campsites have electricity and a shade roof. There is an artistic elevated patio fash-
ioned from driftwood - great for sunset beers. All rooms share interesting outdoor com-
munal bathrooms covered in mosaic tiles and seashells. Dog lovers should ask the Spanish
owner to show you his 20 Peruvian hairless dogs - he breeds them (there are two hairy
dogs here, too, clearly playing second fiddle). Hiking to nearby mud baths can be ar-
ranged and they also run popular five-day hostal -and-camping tours that take in beaches,
trekking, lagoons and mud baths and cost only S550 per person - including everything!
It's supremely rustic but pretty idyllic at the same time.