We decided to go to Puerto Inca and not Pucallpa which is a big city and only visited by those heading inland to Iquitos (the largest city without road access in the world) by river. We boarded a pickup and they put us in the front seats, it is cheaper in the back but they said it would be hot and dusty. After the journey we realised they were wrong, it would have been better in the back, the days are cloudy so no sun beating down and the breeze and the views would be much better. They said they were going to Puerto Inca (20s ea) but when we arrived we were in Puerto Sungaro. No problem, eat first, there we chatted with the women running the place who loved Carols eyes and had a stuffed 'Gavilan' out the back,
it's a bird with black and white stripped wings. Next a friendly 'I have a boat' man said he was heading upriver soon we had a choice to go by road 9km then cross the river by boat or to go by boat all the way, of course we would go by road - NOT! so we went with Alejandro to load our packs onto his long canoe.
The trip was about half an hour or a bit less, the river is low as it is winter and no rain. There were some small rapids but otherwise we just puttered along, we had others in the boat (a collectivo boat) and picked up and dropped off others along the river. Yes a river in the Amazon! Well almost the Amazon! This river connects directly to The Amazon river so we claim that connection :)
Puerto Inca is a small town and we were lucky enough to find Hospedaje Brisas just down from the dock. They showed us 2 rooms, one new one with big double bed, tv, shower etc for 25s or the second a smaller room in their wooden building with a big single bed and wire netting windows and a deck with a view over the river for 8s. We took the second, not for the price but because it was such a lovely little room and we had space outside on the verandah to sit and watch the activity on the river.
The family were so nice and spent time chatting with us, they are building more and more rooms. The town was interesting, they are gradually doing the place up, in the summer rains the river comes right up over the bottom street. One evening we ate deep fried bananas and kebabs and deep fried platano that was mushed up (looked like breadcrumbs) and a bit of hot pork fat and crackling added and rolled into a ball = delicious!
We met Ernesto who also had a boat, just like the guys in the east who all have carpet shops. Ernesto took us downriver to another tributory which we had to go across in another boat then walked upriver with him telling us all about the different trees and birds. One tree called 'sang real' bled red sap when cut. We met a young man fishing in the river with a dry corncob, line and hook. He was using worms just like everywhere else to catch the fish. We got to sample the cocoa fruit.
Inside it has seeds that are covered in a pulp that is very sweet and tasty. It was a lovely expedition on a lovely day, the sun goes in and out behind the clouds which is the best as when its out it is really hot. The nights are cool so we sleep really well.
Next stop is to be somewhere south, wherever the collectivos go to.
