OCN office/Volunteer house by walking in Huanchaco
Our address is Las Camelias 431, Huanchaco. We are located about 6 blocks from the beach.
If you are coming from the beach, take a Los Ficus street between Fito Pan bakery and Espaanglisch School, just before the bus/ combi turns into Los Pinos Street. Walk along Los Ficus street until you reach the deadlock where you will see a small garden on your right hand. Just on the right tip of the garden, the street becomes Las Camelias. Walk a bit more for one and half block until you reach Las Camelias 431 where see a white building with blue front gate. Our sign, Otra Cosa Network, is on the right hand side of the gate.
Arriving from Lima
We recommend that you use our pre-arranged taxi service from Trujillo to Huanchaco. This is safe and reliable and he meets you with an Otra Cosa Network sign and just charges the standard 15 Soles (US$5, Euros4) from bus station or airport direct to our house or your accommodation.
Just taking any taxi from the street is not always safe and although assualts, robberies and kidnapping of taxi passengers are not so common here as some other South American countries, they do happen, so it does involve some degree of risk. So no sense jumping in to any available taxi when you can have some-one we know and trust (including to take our 3 year old son to school) waiting with an Otra Cosa Network sign.
We know a lot of you are on a tight budget, and we do offer a few tips for saving money while you're here but in this case we're sure taxi is much better and safer than bus, and if you can afford a flight to Peru, its false economy to try to save a few Soles with trying to get a local bus on arrival carrying all your luggage and valuables. You can save much more using local buses and collectivos once you, your luggage and valuables are safely settled here. However, in the end it's your choice.
To arrange the taxi pick-up just ask by e-mail or phone with at least 24 hours notice and we will confirm back to you. Once confirmed this is a commitment by you and him to use his taxi. If you arrive and use another taxi instead its at your own risk and you owe us the 15 Soles for him waiting around for you.Equally if for any reason he's not there waiting give us a call and we'll chase him up - do have our number (461302) and some coins for the phone with you just in case.
The taxi service is not obligatory and if you want you can try to come by local bus but there is no direct bus service from most Lima arriving bus stations so you need a local taxi to the right bus stops, then get a bus to Huanchaco.
If you take the bus to Huanchaco wait until the bus turns up away from the beach into Los Pinos and ask the driver to let you off at La Curva at the end of Los Pinos where the buses turn to the left. You walk straight ahead for one block and turn right for one block and then your first left into las Camelias. Our house is the second on your left which is clearly numbered 431. It is a two floor white house with a blue gate. If (or when) you get lost be sure to find a local phone and have some change and our phone number with you to ring for directions. We're not always at home so have our mobile numbers with you.
All comes back to taxi is best, but we try to stick to the principle that our job is to inform and advise and you have the choice (and responsibility) for your actions.
We're normally available Monday - Friday 9.00-1.00 and 2.00-5.00p.m., but best to call us first on (044) 461302 to check if we'll be there and avoid a wasted journey. We do keep trying to have some life of our own, so for your sake and ours best to check in advance if we'll be here.
