This past weekend, the @EcoSwell interns got a chance to visit the beautiful nearby Capullana sea cliffs and caves, thanks to our friend Henry, a Lobitos local. Check out the view!
An hour and a half before sunset we all crowded into a couple of mototaxis and drove fifteen minutes up the dirt roads from Lobitos to the hidden cliffs. The crew walked along the cliffs, which have been shaped by erosion from the persistent wind and waves characteristic of this region. As we admired the contrast between the orange cliffs in the golden glow of the sun and the bright blue of the rolling waves, we made our way toward a gorgeous natural arch, which just formed in the last five years or so.
When we reached the arch, Henry led us to a series of ropes that allowed us to scramble down to the beach. After our climbing skills were tested and everyone was on the sand, we ventured into the nearest cave, which led us through a dark tunnel to the beach right in front of the arch. As we stepped out of the cave there were small red crabs that scattered and disappeared into the sand if we came too close. The cliffs are also key nesting areas for blue-footed boobies, birds famous for their bright blue feet.
Between the setting sun, the colorful animals, the crashing waves, and the wind-weathered cliffs, it was an incredible moment to absorb. This area is virtually unknown to anyone other than locals, and is an example of the potential for ecotourism in the area. If developed in a thoughtful, eco-centric way, these cliffs and caves could bring both economic success to the local area and environmental awareness to locals and tourists alike. Though the beaches are beautiful, they are littered with plastic and other waste, and a program to keep this area pristine using revenue from ecotourism would benefit both the animals and the tourism in the area. One of @EcoSwell’s long-term goals is to encourage mindful and educational ecotourism to areas along the northern coast of Peru to allow for small rural and semi-rural communities in the region to develop in a sustainable and eco-conscious way.
Adventures to little-known sites like these beautiful cliffs are a fun part of being an @EcoSwell volunteer!
All photos by Jessa Clark.
@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!