Roaming South America

Corrales, EC - A Small Piece of Coastal Unexcitement

February 25, 2026

Corrales, Perú, just a few kilometers south of Tumbes, which is 30 kilometers south of the border with Ecuador. I've visited Corrales once before, here's the blog. That blog has some of the history and my initial observations. The town hasn't changed in the last 3 years.

One thing - the people are friendly and like to talk to foreigners, or strangers in general. I had conversations with at least half a dozen people during my one-day/one-night visit. Here's the thing, though - there's no hotel, no hostel, only a hospedaje which is "lodging" in English. This is basically a very cheap hotel - 25 Soles, converted to US dollars, right now that's about $7.50. So, don't expect much. On Google Map you'll see 2 hotels shown, but neither exists. This hospedaje is not on the map. What do you get for your money? A small room with a worn-out bed and a bathroom. In my room, the toilet could only be used when sitting sideways, and there wasn't enough space in front of it. There's no hot water, only "clima" or "temporado," which means the water tank is up on the roof and the water in it is as warm as the outside temp and the sunshine will get it. Which is somewhere between cold and lukewarm. And there's no wifi. And the rooms I looked at do not have exterior windows.

Otherwise, the town is nothing special, the streets are generally clean, the central park is fine, and there is one ATM and a bank. There is a small grocery store, but then there are lots of small tiendas (convenience stores). Is this a place to stop at to visit? No, just pass by or pull in for a meal.