Yesterday, the @EcoSwell team took a field day to explore the future ecotourism hiking trails in nearby Piedritas. The ecotourism hiking trails are a project that EcoSwell is currently working on to promote ecotourism and reforestation in the area. The goal is to construct multiple hiking trails through the dry forest, hills, and beaches in Piedritas with trained local guides and many signs with information on the important flora and fauna. Piedritas is a near-perfect example of what a dry forest should look like. In Lobitos many of the trees have been cut down to use for charcoal. The ecotourism hiking trails hope to help maintain and educate locals and tourists about the dry forest and the animals that live within it.
Arriving in Piedritas is entirely underwhelming. This small town on the side of a dirt road consists of roughly ten buildings, that, without prior knowledge, one would not think was a town. We hopped out of the crowded van and took in the few buildings that surrounded us. We walked the few steps across the dirt road to what looked like a makeshift wooden shack with no roof. Andres, one of the Directors, told us that it eventually will become the visitor’s center for the ecotourism hiking trails. We stopped to look at the sign that EcoSwell has already put up along the road to attract passerbys to the trails.
To reach the hiking trails you must walk through the town towards the beach. The smell of goats and pigs owned by community members was evident as we walked. Along the road there was also a nice restaurant area that is still in the process of being built. On the right we saw a large enclosed area with grass, a playground, a volleyball court, a soon-to-be pool and four horses who just roam around eating the grass. I was astonished by how many large trees there were, it was unlike anything I had experienced in Peru. After walking a few minutes we came to what looked to be a very dirty river but is actually raw sewage that has overflowed from Talara. The river was quite large and the foliage around it was flourishing. We walked along the dirt road towards the trails and Andres pointed out tree stumps where locals have cut down the trees. You would never imagine that this many trees could survive in a desert, but then again, it is indeed a forest.
Andres led us to an intersection where many trails branch off in different directions. We continued forward towards the ocean, my shoes already filled with sand. We walked through horse droppings, plants with sharp thorns and sand dunes. There was a red hawk flying high above us for a while, so majestic. We came to a river crossing with a few sticks lain across to act as a bridge. Many of us jumped across the narrow waters, but I chose to cross the bridge instead. I escaped dry, but some of us did not. We continued our hike, this time through thorns, reeds and many small pokey trees. We stopped under a large tree to take a rest and rehydrate because the sun had finally broken through the clouds and was baking us as we walked. While we rested I emptied my shoes of the sand that had built up from the hike. We headed back and once again had to cross the river. This time while crossing the bridge I misstepped and plunged my foot into the river! I jumped across as fast as I could but my right foot was completely soaked. We went back to the original intersection and this time took another trail towards the hills. We stopped to watch a white hawk swoop and drive through the air. From up on the hill you can see the expansive dry forest that goes all the way to the ocean. The other side overlooks the town of Piedritas as well as a plant haven created by the sewage water. There were goats by the river eating the deep green grass. It is remarkably beautiful!
We headed down the mountain and back into town and Andres called for a van to come pick us up. We waited outside the house of a lovely lady called Marleni who brought us lemonade to quench our thirst. By this time it was well past lunch and I was starving. When we finally arrived back at the EcoSwell house everyone had a big appetite from the adventure. Least to say there were no lunch leftovers. It was very interesting to see what a dry forest is supposed to look like and I now understand the environment that EcoSwell is trying to bring back to Lobitos. I look forward to returning once the ecotourism hiking trails are completed and enjoying once again the amazing landscapes that the dry forest has to offer!
Post written by Jenny Turk, Humboldt State University, Environmental Resources Engineering
All photos by Jessa Clark, Stanford University, Earth Systems
@EcoSwell is a for-impact, sustainable development organization based in Lobitos, Peru. Since 2014, we have been working everyday to help coastal communities thrive in unison with nature. All the revenue generated from our SteemIt posts go directly back into our projects. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Facebook, website, and follow us on SteemIt!