Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
There are several
old houses
dating from the early 19th century on Grau, east of the Plaza
de Armas. These rickety abodes are made of split-bamboo and wood and it seems like
they are defying gravity through sheer will. The plaza has several outdoor restaurants and
is a nice place to relax. The
pedestrian streets
north of the plaza (especially Bolívar)
have several large, modern monuments and are favorite hangouts for young and old alike.
About 5km south of town, off the Pan-American Hwy, is an overgrown archaeological
site that was the home of the Tumpis people and, later, the site of the Inca fort visited by
Pizarro. The story is told in the tiny site museum,
Museo de Cabeza de Baca
(adult S4;
8:30am-4pm Mon-Sat)
, which also displays some 1500-year-old ceramic vessels from
all around Tumbes, including Chimú and Inca. One display case is dedicated to artifacts
seized by customs before they were illegally trafficked out of the country. A larger mu-
seum was under construction when we came through.
Tours & Guides
Preference Tours
( 52-5518; turismomun dial@hotmail.com; Grau 427;
9am-7:30pm Mon-Say, to 11am Sun)
runs some of the most economical tours in town if
you have a group of three or more and is the preferred (ahem!) agency for the nearby
parks and reserves.
Sleeping
Almost all of Tumbes' hotels are in the budget range and most hotels have only cold wa-
ter, but that's no problem in the heat. Be sure your room has a working fan if you're here
in the sweltering summer (December to March). During the wet season and the twice-
yearly rice harvests, mosquitoes can be a big problem, and there are frequent water and
electricity outages. In the lower end of the budget range, watch your valuables carefully.
Casa César $$
( 52-2883;
www.casacesartumbes.com
;
Huáscar 311; s/d incl breakfast from
S110/160; )
These former budget digs got the kind of makeover normally reserved
for
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
. It's now a full-on midrange boutique hotel that is pro-
fessional, friendly and easy on the eyes: sleek, high-design furniture color up the minimal-
ist white aesthetic at play here.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
