Recreation

Run by an ecotourism specialist and her marine biologist husband, Pacífico Adventures (tel. 073/25-7686, www.pacificoadventures.com [1]) offers a range of professional, nature-based trips. Spend the day snorkeling near Órganos [2] or push off into deeper water and go fishing.

Don’t travel to Tumbes [3] to arrange trips to the northern nature reserves. Either coordinate a trip with Tumbes Tours (tel. 072/968-3118, www.tumbestours.com [4]), a long-term operator in the Tumbes area, or check out Iguana’s Trips (Piura 245, tel. 01/9853-5099, www.vivamancora.com/iguanastrips [5], 9 a.m.–close daily). Before starting Iguana’s Trips, the energetic Ursula Behr was a Class V raft guide in the Cusco [6] area. Now, she leads trips down the Río Tumbes (Class III) and hikes, horseback rides, or mountain-bike rides through the Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape.

For private surf lessons, call Robby Munoz, Surfing Lessons Máncora (Grau 440, next to EPPO, tel. 073/957-6985, surfinglessons_1 [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$18/hr including equipment). Born to Peruvian parents in North America, Munoz speaks perfect English. And he’s lived in Máncora [7] since 2001, so he knows the waves well. To rent surfboards or, if you are experienced, kite boarding equipment, stop by Hostal Las Olas (Av. Pura s/n, tel. 073/25-8099, www.lasolasmancora.com [8]).