Peru travel blog by Mark Berman -
May 2009
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I was glad to arrive in Camana after a not so pleasant bus ride from Tacna, it took about 9hrs and I was in desperate need of some soup.
I asked a few restaurants if they served soup and they all kept telling me the same name of a place where I could get some. I found it by the plaza
and indulged. I stayed in Camana for 2 nights just to stop and rest for a couple of days before another long haul north. It is a nice place to catch
your breath. There were a few interesting characters around, a lot of mototaxis, a nice plaza with trees and gardens. There was even noisy cars with
balloons in a convoy driving through the streets to celebrate someones birthday. Things To Do in Camana
The Pacific coast which is not too far away has several beaches such as Playa La Miel,
Playa Quilca and Playa Chira as well as a lagoon called Lagunas De Pucchun. Plus the island called Isla Hornillos and various wildlife such as seals, penguins
and pelicans which are common to see on the Pacific coast of South America. Very close to the center of Camana (12kms) is the museum called Museo Jose Maria Quimper which
displays objects relating to the Nazca, Paracas, Wari, Chuquibamba, Collagua and Inca cultures. There are also hiking oportunities on Inca trails in the
area and the Inca observatory south by the river to view nature and see the ocean.
I Found the Best Soup!
I got the feeling that Camana was a very proud city and found the
people to have an easy-going nature about them. I was lucky and happy to find the best soup I have tasted while in South America in Camana at Restaurant
El Pacifico. I came here a few times during my stay, it was less than $3 Soles per bowl including a drink!
Buses Going North
After 2 nights in Camana I was ready to take a night bus up to
Ica.
I was just going to pass through Ica, Pisco and Lima (because I had been to these places on the way down earlier) and get up to Trujillo and Huanchaco to
see some archaeology, banana boats, surfing and reach a warmer climate.
Get Your Hand Out of My Bag!
From Ica first thing in the morning I got a local bus for about an hour north to
Pisco and stayed the night. I don't sleep that well on overnight buses and slightly dozed off on the way to
Pisco.
I had my small pack in my arms and felt something moving inside it while my eyes were closed. I snapped out of my snoozing and caught the guy in the seat
behind me lift his hand out of my pack, his hand is in mid air and he is leaning over to my seat. I said something to him for
which he replied 'no, no, no'. I changed seats and he disappeared off the bus at the next stop. He didn't get anything. Next day I bused for about 3 hours
up to
Lima, walked around for half the day waiting for a night bus leaving at
10pm to
Trujillo which took about 8-10 hours and arrived the next morning.