After spending 4 months in the amazing Andes mountains, breathing at elevations I've never experienced before and freezing at night, I figured it was about time that I get some summer weather in. Surf towns and beaches are pretty common in northern Peru and Ecuador and it was about time I get there! My first beach town was Mancora, Peru. A long nice beach full with surfers and kite boarders. The Loki hostel was like a mini resort for 20 something year old backpackers right on the beach. So needless to say, it was a party 24 hours/day. I was there to teach a chakra workshop that I designed and started promoting in Cusco. I met the owner of Loki hostel and she invited me to stay there and offer the workshop to the local yoga studio. It was a great experience but being in the party hostel wasn't what I was looking for at the time. No complaints here, as it was a free place to stay for teaching the workshop and always good people watching, especially the stoned, drunk, obnoxious Australians doing stupid tricks in the pool and on the bar.
After 3 nights in Mancora and enjoying the hot weather, I was ready to move on to Ecuador. I heard that there is a good surf town called Montanita and after the loud nights at Loki, I was ready to book a chill, private room on the beach front with hammocks and yoga. Found it! Hostel Kundalini. 5 minute walk from the crazy, fun party town but far enough that I can sleep in without hearing music, yelling and people stumbling into their rooms at 6 am.
I immediately found the yoga studio and made great connections there. I'm now teaching at 5:30 for sunset yoga. I also met a super fun group of guys. Come to find out, they are from Sacramento. It's been a while since I'd hung out with Americans, much less Sac dudes and it was feeling more like home. Same sense of humor and same taste in drinks. It made my week better. The town is like a spring break atmosphere, loaded with people in bikinis, open containers, bars/restaurants, and music blasting on every corner. It's full with other South Americans, as it's their winter and Ecuador still has the sun and surf to enjoy.
I'm waiting out the week as I pushed out my Galapagos trip one more week. I fly on Friday to start diving and experiencing the local wildlife of the infamous islands on the equador. Needless to say, I'm happy here where the sun shines, I can run on the 2 mile long beach, stare at hot bodies and enjoy a piña colada with the locals. Life is good!
Julie
