Lima

[Mr Enternational]

With Guayaquil, the main thing is the Malecon, and prices there are about 50% cheaper for hotels and food.

The place I stayed in Guayaquil was $7. It would have been $6 without the color TV.

Have you ever been to Cusco? I didn't like it. It's a tourist trap. I like Lima a lot and I like most places in South America. But I could only tolerate Cusco for a few hours before making my way towards Machu Picchu.

Agree. Nothing in Cusco to see. Only a gateway to MP.

And BTW pay attention as Peru reimposes 14 days quarantine.

Well it damn sure better not be before I get there on the 13th.

[Questner]

And BTW pay attention as Peru reimposes 14 days quarantine.

[NRandom940]

Seeing good airfare with open-jaw options.

Was thinking Lima-Guayaquil-Medellin or Lima-Medellin only or Guayaquil-Medellin only.

Possibly thinking keeping the Peru leg more civilian minded (Cusco?) and saving my rocks for MDE. Maybe a token Lima session.

Seeing if anyone has input.

Have you ever been to Cusco? I didn't like it. It's a tourist trap. I like Lima a lot and I like most places in South America. But I could only tolerate Cusco for a few hours before making my way towards Machu Picchu.

If Machu Picchu is your plan, I heard that the locals are protesting train prices and blocking the tracks. This was a few weeks ago and they closed Machu Picchu. Not sure if it's still going on.

[Elvis 2008]

Seeing good airfare with open-jaw options.

Was thinking Lima-Guayaquil-Medellin or Lima-Medellin only or Guayaquil-Medellin only.

Possibly thinking keeping the Peru leg more civilian minded (Cusco?) and saving my rocks for MDE. Maybe a token Lima session.

Seeing if anyone has input.

CTC you can do all the touristy stuff in Lima in about 5 days and 2 days in Guayaquil. I recommend Museo Larco, the magical fountain tour, Museo Larco, a food tour of Barranco with Lima, and swimming with the seals. With Guayaquil, the main thing is the Malecon, and prices there are about 50% cheaper for hotels and food.

The hobby scene is not as vibrant as Guayaquil as it is in Lima, but Guayaquil has strip clubs that are very active and actually some good looking street walkers. I met and had a stunning 20 year old Colombian stripper in Guayaquil for $50 for the night. There were also some really hot street walkers in Guayaquil.

But neither city is great with regards to attractive women. Peruvian women are sweet that attractive but sweet. I did not act much with Ecuadorian women because I did not see anything I really liked.

[John Gault]

Seeing good airfare with open-jaw options.

Was thinking Lima-Guayaquil-Medellin or Lima-Medellin only or Guayaquil-Medellin only.

Possibly thinking keeping the Peru leg more civilian minded (Cusco?) and saving my rocks for MDE. Maybe a token Lima session.

Seeing if anyone has input.

I have done the Lima to MDE twice. I always get a nonstop for this and it is only a three hour flight. If you are not picky with the dates then I found it is a cheap flight.

[CenTexCrash]

Seeing good airfare with open-jaw options.

Was thinking Lima-Guayaquil-Medellin or Lima-Medellin only or Guayaquil-Medellin only.

Possibly thinking keeping the Peru leg more civilian minded (Cusco?) and saving my rocks for MDE. Maybe a token Lima session.

Seeing if anyone has input.

[Jockey16]

Elvis,

You wrote:

"Joc key, "for the record", I said Lima was not a good value, and you attacked me and said I was cheap. You then insulted me and again and said my ex-fiance was working the streets. Then I spent too much to bring my ex to Peru. So whatever I spent was too little or too much. And what does that have to do with if Lima is a good value or not? Not a fucking thing which was the point of your post. ".

* * I don't particularly care how anyone spends his money. It is when somebody describes his way of mongering as best and criticize those who spend it differently, as you did that I have always spoken up. You did not just described your way as, the way, you got upset when others described why they like Lima stating "I really do not even know why you guys are arguing this point".

"The forum is to share information: the good and the bad. When I shared the bad about Lima, you asked why I was posting here; that tells me you have a vested interest in pumping Lima up and reason to attack someone telling the truth about Lima. ".

* * Lima is not cheap but there are those who need to travel to Lima for whatever reason and they will benefit from "the good and the bad", not criticized for their decisions. If I have "have a vested interest in pumping Lima" shouldn't I "pump it" in other forums? It makes no sense in just staying in the Peru's forum.

"I find it hard to believe that you have a stash of college women who just so happen to let you take nude pictures of them and shuffle you off to foreign guys without getting something. Maybe it is not money, but I have a hard time believing it is nothing. ".

* * Many years ago, David, who also helped the ISG folks with introductions, received similar criticism yet, he never received a penny. Thank God I don't need $25 for the few times I am asked for help but that, being "your opinion" I will accept it as such.

"Do you know what it sounds like when you say that WE can say in shit hotels and hitchhike? We should suffer so we have more money to give you and your girls? I would bet against any business or service with that attitude. ".

* * You continue to misquote me. It was not my suggestion! It was a way to show you that "Your inexpensive, the best mongering way" was not the cheapest, and that if not spending money was your objective, there was a cheaper way and that paying to bring your "girlfriend" and all accompanying expenses was not consistent with you "spend the least" mongering way.

I have been to one of the cheapest places in Lima, cheaper than even The Troc, a hole called the San Jose across from the central Market in La Victoria, closed now, all the way to very expensive chicks and I have a preference on how to spend my money, but never did I suggest that my way is THE WAY.

This is all I can say about the subject.

Later.

[Tomasb]

Spot on! When I lived in Peru, in Cusco and then Lima, I went up there a couple of times. The water is warmer than the ocean around Lima as it is above the Humboldt current but it's not that warm either. I learned how to surf there with a former Peruvian woman champion so that was a good experience. But the break is very small and lots of competition. Think she still lives there so ask around. However, the town has very little to offer. The bars, such as they are, are located on the main road and you have to dodge the considerable truck traffic on the PanAm highway. A lot of young, rich kids from Lima go there too adding to the weird ambience. Some of the hotel beaches have poor electrical systems in the shower and at least one person has been electrocuted there fiddling with the shower. I don't remember any upscale places but there was a decent place to stay with a pool on the opposite side of the oceanside entering the town. As far as Peru goes, it's about the best they have to offer in terms of beaches but overall it's not so great.

It's not easy to get there either. A long torturous bus ride from Lima or as I did a flight to Piura and then a rattling bus ride to Mancora. Piura is a hole so no need to linger there either. Never saw so many homeless and destitute people and that was several years ago.

Oh, they ARE nice! Brazil has some phenomenal beaches. Like some of the best in the world. Just around Rio, there are Buzios to the north, Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande, and the whole Costa Verde to the south. And there are equal or even better beaches in other parts of Brazil.

As to Mancora, I once researched it for a weekend with my novia and decided against it. Just couldn't see why I would want to pay a lot of money for what seemed to me like overpriced accommodations coupled with unreliable infrastructure in order to spend a weekend on a lousy beach. Didn't make sense to me.

[Xpartan]

Honestly, I have been underwhelmed with the beaches in South America. Yes, Rio has big ones, but I do not think they were all that nice.

Oh, they ARE nice! Brazil has some phenomenal beaches. Like some of the best in the world. Just around Rio, there are Buzios to the north, Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande, and the whole Costa Verde to the south. And there are equal or even better beaches in other parts of Brazil.

As to Mancora, I once researched it for a weekend with my novia and decided against it. Just couldn't see why I would want to pay a lot of money for what seemed to me like overpriced accommodations coupled with unreliable infrastructure in order to spend a weekend on a lousy beach. Didn't make sense to me.

[Elvis 2008]

That place sux. But I do understand that it is the best of what they have to work with, so to them it is a good place. Damn sure ain't no Punta Cana or Cancun. It is like a Miraflores with sand instead of rocks. The water is just as cold and just as murky. I was glad I did not lug my scuba gear to that place.

There is a place to swim with the sea turtles that is worth doing but it is cold. The Mancora area is more a place you look at the beach and ocean (and it is beautiful) and swim at the pool rather than the ocean.

You are right. It IS the best Peru has to work with. My ex had the mumps (people still get that there) and I could just tell she needed out of cold and gray Lima so I took her there. The weather was great, like 80 and sunny every day, and the flight there was cheap, but the roads from Piura to Mancora were pothole city.

Honestly, I have been underwhelmed with the beaches in South America. Yes, Rio has big ones, but I do not think they were all that nice. The only country where the beaches are great IMO are in Venezuela and it is hard to get there now. I thought Margarita Island was the place, but my ex mentioned LOS Roques, and when I looked it up, I was stunned at the beauty. The water and sand are Cancun like.

Venezuela is quietly getting more stable. They have a long way to go, but I am thinking of getting a piece of property on a Vennie beach if things continue to improve.

[Elvis 2008]

Others have described an even cheaper way than yours.

Jockey, "for the record", I said Lima was not a good value, and you attacked me and said I was cheap. You then insulted me and again and said my ex-fiance was working the streets. Then I spent too much to bring my ex to Peru. So whatever I spent was too little or too much. And what does that have to do with if Lima is a good value or not? Not a fucking thing which was the point of your post.

The forum is to share information: the good and the bad. When I shared the bad about Lima, you asked why I was posting here; that tells me you have a vested interest in pumping Lima up and reason to attack someone telling the truth about Lima.

It makes no difference to me what folks do or where the travel. I have only helped those who have requested my help to meet chicks while in Lima. I don't make a penny out of that.

I find it hard to believe that you have a stash of college women who just so happen to let you take nude pictures of them and shuffle you off to foreign guys without getting something. Maybe it is not money, but I have a hard time believing it is nothing.

Afterwards, the forum became a bad version of Trip Advisor where misinformation ruled. The hotels were great deals! Well, not so much. The food was cheap! Once again, it was not.

Do you know what it sounds like when you say that WE can say in shit hotels and hitchhike? We should suffer so we have more money to give you and your girls? I would bet against any business or service with that attitude.

There is a lot to like about Lima: moderate climate, beautiful views, altitude near sea level, good cuisine, swimming with the seals, and a country that probably has more tourist attractions than any other in South America. For the world, Lima may be an above average city for mongering. For South America, there is MUCH better.

[Seraph2099]

Machu Picchu (which I'd nominate for the worst food in Latin America).

Agreed. Everything I ate in Aguas Calientes was just so mediocre.

[Jockey16]

Elvis,

Just for the record.

You wrote:

- I get that Jockey has a vested interest in mongers coming to Peru.

It makes no difference to me what folks do or where the travel. I have only helped those who have requested my help to meet chicks while in Lima. I don't make a penny out of that.

You also wrote:

- he told people here that they could come to Peru over cheaper countries by staying in youth hostels and hitch hiking, my jaw dropped.

Perhaps if you read my comments again, you'll find I wrote:

- Others have described an even cheaper way than yours.

That was in response to the suggestion about the Cheapest mongering ways you subscribe to.

Later.

Elvis 2008.

I get that Jockey has a vested interest in mongers coming to Peru but when he told people here that they could come to Peru over cheaper countries by staying in youth hostels and hitch hiking, my jaw dropped.

[Kingpin]

Last year I was at Ibas in Miraflores and during the day they allowed visitors no problems come to the room but has anyone been there recently? Are they allowing vistors?

Or asking for DNI?

[Artisttyp]

Bottom line: you should never assume a mongering country is like it used to be, or like it should be on sheer grounds of economics.

Lima has undergone several changes in the last few years. As someone else mentioned Miraflores has turned ultra vanilla and the costs for hotels and food in the tourist areas have increased signifcally. You can still do Lima on the cheap but you would need to venture out of the tourist areas which most people are uncomfortable with. Lima is a brut of a city to get around, otherwise if there was quick access to the remote areas it would be way more interesting pfp wise. Maneuvering hours of traffic just to get a 15 minute quicky gets tiresome.

Lets see when the smoke settles after Covid. I still say there will be many many pfp opportunities in Latin America for those with income and good health to enjoy. You just need to sit tight a while longer.

I see Lima as problematic for the foreseeable future. A large urban environment packed with people living on top of each other. Not my cup of tea right now either but lets see what the future brings.