A 32 hour journey to Peru

October 18, 2009

Our intention was to take a bus from Montanita to Guayaquil, then catch a 24 sleeper bus to Lima, Peru. We left on Monday, October 12 around 10am from Montanita to Guayaquil which took 3 hours. We got to the Guayaquil station and looked for the buses to Lima, but were told the office was elsewhere. So we took a taxi to that office to find out we would have to wait until the next day to get it, waste more time, etc so we just decided to keep taking buses to get closer. So we returned to the Guayaquil bus station and grabbed a 5.5 hr bus ride to Tumbes. Luckily, I sat next to my new friend, Andrew, from San Diego, so we chatted most of the way and then he shared his ear phone with me since my i-pod was dead. Yes..a dead i-pod for a really long journey=my worst nightmare. Anyways, so we arrived in Tumbes (after we had to deal with exit customs from Ecuador and entry customs in Peru), and then had to take these ridiculous motorized taxis/tuk tuks to another station. Then we got set up for an 11 hour overnight bus ride to Tronjillo (check out how lovely I look in the pic). It was a double decker bus..for a little while I was so nervous because it was so dark out, we kept stopping at random stops, bus was a little rocky, and I was worrying about the driver getting tired, etc. Then I got tired and got over it, and slept on and off pretty well.

We then arrived in Trujillo around 830 am. Of course we got to that station, and were told we needed to go to another station to get a 1030am bus to Lima. We arrive at the other, and the bus actually leaves at 930 am instead so we had no time for breakfast. At this point, all I had been eating was Doritos, chips, Gatorade and other crappy snacks.

Anyways, we got this bus and one of the staff guys was walking through the aisles videotaping each person in their seat..normal. A woman came on the bus selling empanadas (real food) and it was delicious!! Anyways, I took plenty of naps, shifted around, watched some random tv they had on. Then we stopped somewhere and had a real meal which I scarfed down!! I also got a Pepsi which tasted amazing. Anyways,we finally arrived in Lima around 630pm or so with all of our luggage...some type of miracle!

It was funny because when we got to the hostel, it was a big party scene! A fun bar, lots of travelers, good music, a pool table...so of course we showered and then rallied up for some fun! :)