El Salvador - El Zonte & El Tunco

El Zonte

The volcanic black sand beach at El Zonte

El Zonte was our first stop in El Salvador. We had heard it was a good place for beginners to try and hone their surfing skills as it is situated on the pacific coast near La Libertad. The waves were infact huge and far too difficult for a beginner like me to even attempt it, so we spent most of our time relaxing by the hostels two, (yes two) swimming pools and trying not to be attacked by the hostels pet iguana and macaws. El Zonte is a tiny village with about four basic hostels and even less eating establishments, still it was great to feel so isolated...well for a few days anyway.

The hostel in El Zonte...with the two swimming pools!

The friendly looking macaws, don't feed them your fingers.

Richard keeping a safe distance in the pool after the iguana went for his head.

El Tunco

The locals make it look so easy!

El Tunco is a larger surf town not far from El Zonte but it is much more touristy. After our relaxing few days in isolated El Zonte we opted to go and live it up at bit in this party town. I even tried to surf the point break at El Sunzal. We had a great time here, but as the beaches are made up of volcanic pebbles it is more appropriate for surfing than swimming and sunbathing.

I think it's time to get to the golden sands of the Bay Islands in the Honduran Caribbean!


Taking it all in with a beer or two!


Sunset on the beach.

San Juan del Sur - Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur
We left Santa Theresa early in the morning along with 5 Isralies that we had met in our hostel. The journey to Nicaragua started with two (one hour) buses to get to the ferry port, when we got there we discovered that the ferry was 'out of service' so had to wait another two hours for the next one. We finally made it to Barranco and got dropped off by a knackered looking bus stop, and were informed that this is where we catch the bus to the Nicaraguan border. As there were enough gringos waiting for buses we decided to share a taxi to the border, hoping to make up some of the time we had lost. The taxi was extremely slow and broke down 40km from our destination. The wheel axel was coming apart so the only solution was another taxi!

Thankfully we finally made it to the border before it closed, we were feeling hot and tired. After another 45 minute taxi drive we were in San Juan del Sur and checked into a hostel!

The town was small and still felt authentic and not too touristy

The beach town, San Juan, is the premier destination in Nicaragua for surfing. It's also a colourful town with very friendly people. We were staying in Mama Sara's house, she is a wonderful woman who insisted that I call her Mama and her husband Papa. Mama Sara also made us typical Nicaraguan food everyday to try! We made friends with other backpackers and also met up with some friends we had met on the yacht trip from Colombia to Panama. The days spent here consisted of going surfing at a nearby beach called Remanso in the day and heading out for rum and cola in the evenings in the towns drinking establishments.


Mama Sara's hostel is the green one in the centre


Wonderful sunset over the town beach


Another sunset picture (we have hundreds like this)

Costa Rica - Cahuita & Santa Teresa

Cahuita
Situated on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Cahuita is an extremely quiet and laid back little town with two main beaches, one black sand and the other white. The vibe here feels totally Jamaican and the air is thick with the smell of coconut rum and weed. To be honest there is very little to do here other than sunbathe on the beautiful beaches, read a good book and swat away sandflies. When we visited, the sea swells were very low and a disappointed Lucy now has to wait until we get to Costa Rica's pacific coast in order to get some good surf action.


Crossing the rickety bridge from Panama to Costa Rica


The water here was warmer than most baths I've had


This fella was a little crabby


Some sort of green lizard


Santa Teresa


Our trip from Cahuita in the north to Santa Teresa in the south consisted of four buses, one taxi and a ferry, starting at 5am in the morning and arriving at our destination at 7.30pm. It was a long and exhausting day but it was well worth the effort. Santa Teresa is situated on the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica and has some of the most breath-taking beaches we've ever seen and is, without doubt, one of the best places to go in Central America if you want to ride the waves. It started out as a tiny fishing village but is now beginning to become a thriving tourist spot for surfers and wealthy ex-pats are busy buying up hostels and land to cash in. We stayed at a friendly, Israeli owned hostel called Hostel Seven. The owner, Gingi, gave us a great price for a room and we settled in for a five night stay making the most of the hostel's pool table and and surfing community.


Lucy on the ferry as the skies grow dark with tropical thunder


Tropical storm rolling in


Lucy's second surfing lesson with her expert Israeli guide


They look small, but the waves were huge and the currents strong


The local gallo pinto was fabulous

Mancora - Peru 20th-23rd April

Lovely Mancora beach. Watch out for horse shit.

Mancora

If I have one thing to say it's wear SUNSCREEN!!!

Mancora is a small beach resort in northern Peru. We decided to stay there for three days in total which just so happened to be over Santa Semana (Easter) and was probably one of the busiest times to visit. We had initially booked into a dorm in a hostel however, we had discovered in Huanchaco that a group of six idiots were also staying there...filled with dread that we would end up with them in the 8 bed dorm we decided not to stay there and try and wing finding somewhere when we got there...this could have been a terrible mistake as everywhere was booked.

When we arrived we had no problem finding somewhere... and it was our very own bungalow complete with a hammock and no idiots in sight. Bliss.

Lucy scratching her mosquito bites on the hammock

Lucy shows us how many idiots there are in this photo.

The idea was to do some more surfing, so we relaxed in the sun and also hired a board... I however, had forgotten to put any sunscreen on my legs and managed to burn myself to a ridiculous degree. I'm very ashamed with myself because subsequently today has been a complete right off and I can hardly walk and sitting is extremely painful. What an idiot! Anyway it's easing off now so hopefully the 16 hour bus journey to Quito tomorrow won't be too painful! Next blog we will be in Equador!!

Pre sunburned burned legs...

...and of course afterwards. Ouch!

Boats in Mancora harbour.

Brownie sundae from 'Green Eggs and Ham'. The best place for breakfasts in Mancora.