TouchScreenTravels

Our Touch, your Travels…

This is a preview of the full content of our Peru’s Best app.

Please consider downloading this app to support small independent publishing and because:

All content is designed for mobile devices and works best there.
Detailed in-app maps will help you find sites using your device’s GPS.
The app works offline (one time upgrade required on Android versions).
All advertising (only present on Android versions) can be removed.

The app will also allow you to:

Add custom locations to the app map (your hotel…).
Create your own list of favourites as you browse.
Search the entire contents using a fast and simple text-search tool.
Make one-click phone calls (on phones).

Caballito de Totora

Reed watercraft

The caballito de totora is a bundle of reeds used for fishing and surfing for at least the past 3,500 years.

It’s built with totora reeds that grow along the coast and was traditionally tied together with rope made from llama fur, which coastal people got from mountain people through trade. The traditional bamboo pole that’s used as a paddle was obtained from jungle cultures, also through trade.

Today the caballito de totora is still made with reeds and the paddle is still a bamboo pole, though the llama fur ropes have been replaced by nylon cord.

All fishers in Huanchaco use the caballito de totora with the traditional bamboo pole. They say that wooden boats couldn’t get them up and over the waves to leave the beach and wouldn’t let them surf back to the beach after fishing. Plus, they’re very attached to their heritage and culture.

Heather Jasper on a caballito de totora, Huanchaco

There is always somebody on the beach with a caballito de totora to offer tourists a ride. It costs between s/20-s/30, depending on how long you are on the caballito.

Read my blog about the caballito de totora to learn more.

Beaches & Surfing

Culture

Trujillo

Historic city & world class surfing

Images by Heather Jasper