Mental in Mancora

I finally made it to Mancora after a long day with at least 3 busses in Ecuador and a brief night's sleep in the border town of Tumbes.

The town seemed quite grubby and dusty at first, situated directly along the Panamerican highway, but with a decent beach and some waves going on. I wandered around looking for a place to stay (thinking I would only stay a day or two) and finally happened upon Loki. I had heard legendary things from my cousin Allanah who had stayed in the Loki in Cusco, so decided to chance my luck and check in.

5 days later I stumbled out and crawled on to a night bus heading somewhere as far away as possible before my liver left me.

Yes, Loki is one of those hostels that parties 24/7, a bar tab system ensuring that you need no cash, an inhouse restaurant ensuring you need not leave the place for food and a swimming pool to ensure that you don't have to brave the chilly waves. They have thought of everything. The owners mainly being a group of Irish lads and an Israeli who set up the first one in Cusco in 2005. They now own 4 - Cusco, Lima, La Paz and Mancora and they are definitely on to a winning recipe.