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Tumbes is the capital of the Department of the same name in the Region Grau.

WARNING: If you are crossing the border to Ecuador, beware of scams like the one mentioned below. It is much safer to take a bus!

[edit] Get in

National buses run along the Panamerican Highway from Lima to Tumbes & some to the frontier with Ecuador. There are kombis along the coast to neighbouring towns, & frequent buses along the Panamerican Highway from Lima to Chimbote, Huaraz, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, Chachapoyas, Piura, Mancora & Tumbes.

[edit] Get around

There are kombis to beach resorts, & colectivos to the frontier. Customs & immigration are several kilometres inside Peru & Ecuador so make sure it is understood that colectivo/kombi/taxis wait while formalities are concluded, & they do not drive off with your belongings on any unexpected diversions. International buses are a safer means of crossing the frontier. Beware of false currency exchange.

[edit][add listing] See

White sand beaches, mangroves, Tumbes River & National Parks like Amotape. The Manglares are a series of swamplike everglade type islands in the shallow water. You can visit a small crocodile zoo, where they are trying to continue to grow the local breed.

[edit][add listing] Do

Observe the beautiful Mosaic's in the town, including a 20' 3-D mosaic of Jesus ascension into heaven. Other ones can be found across the various plazas.

Go for a walk along the Malecon, the walkway along the river.

Get out to the beaches in Aguas Verdes, or Puento Pizarro to see the Manglares, or eat lunch on a small island only reachable by boat.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Seafood is of course plentiful and affordable. There are many Chifa's, Chinese food with a Peruvian flavor, located on Feijoo street. Many delicious dessert shops are located in the market street.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Hotel Arrecife, Av Faustinno Piaggo 158, Zorritos, Tumbes, Peru (10 minutes southwest of Tumbes), ☎ 51 (72) 54 4462, [1]. Great looking hotel right on the beach. Pictures look fantastic. I plan on staying soon. Rooms are $25 for a small private single, and dont get much more for a private double or triple. Just like to add that the hotel is very nice, but is in Zorritos which is about 15-25 minutes out of Tumbes. Though its location is great for relaxing. 25.  edit

Hotel Costa Del Sol chain, which maintains facilities along the north coast and in Lima, has one in the main plaza in Tumbes. Cheapest room runs about $90, or 270 soles.

Hotel Feijoo is a little more cheaper, but still of good quality, located on convenient Feijoo street with many chinese eateries and shops.

[edit] Stay safe

In February 2009, a tourist asked the bus company that he took from Lima about getting to Quito by bus. They directed him to a man that went with him in a taxi. They claimed that there were problems at the border and that might make it so he would need to pay off police to get across. In the end, they took him to a secluded place by the border and demanded $70 USD.

Advice: Make sure you know the border situation before arriving in Tumbes.

[edit] Get out

Ormeño [2](Lima to Guayaquil daily & Quito weekly), CIFA (Tumbes to Machala, Guayaquil in Ecuador) & Transportes Loja (Piura to Machala), have international buses to Ecuador. Tepsa runs buses to and from Lima for about $31 or 93 soles.

There are kombis along the coast to neighbouring beach resorts, & national buses run frequently along the Panamerican Highway from the frontier with Ecuador & Tumbes to Mancora, Piura, Chiclayo & Trujillo, (for Huaraz, Cajamarca & Chachapoyas), Chimbote (for Huaraz),& Lima.