Iquitos day 5

Not plan for today, but here is a little random observation here in Iquitos.

Although Iquitos is only accessible by boat and air, the area does have a network of roads connecting many villages south of Iquitos. There are old buses like in the picture on the right for transportation in the immediate urban area around Iquitos. These busses are all built on old converted truck chassis. The lower part of the bus is frabricated with sheet metal, but the upper frame work around the windows and roof support are all made of wood. 

There are a few modern luxury long distance buses going as far south as Nauta. 

but, as with Iquitos, none of this area has road access to the outside world. 

Sometimes when traveling like this, you wake up in the morning and think, now is the time to move on. Or in my case, today is the day to check the options for moving on. 

 

If it wasn't for the constant noise of the tuk-tuks, I could enjoy staying in Iquitos for longer, just chilling. 

I have been back and forth about the idea of catching a boat going south west from Iquitos to Yurimaguas.

I came to Iquitos with the plan of using it as a departure point only to go to Leticia, Colombia. What was bugging me, was the that is only a 2 day boat trip and I wanted to do more. Going to Yurimagaus would take me on a smaller portion of the Amazon that I hadn't been on before. 

The trip upriver to Yurimaguas is 3 days and I would then return to Iquitos. That trip may be a little shorter because it will be going with the current.

Today, I decided for sure I am going.

After breakfast I caught a tuk-tuk to Puerto Masusa. This is the port that all the slow cargo boats depart from.

On arrival at Puerto Masusa, it didn't take me long to find there is a boat leaving today at 5:30. The boat is the Linares III, the smaller boat between the larger blue and white boats.

It was still before 12 noon, I caught another tuk-tuk to head back to the hostel to pack my things and check out. I had time to shower, wash a few pieces of cloths (I can hang them on the boat to dry), and take a short nap. I have a cold coming on. The boat will provide me with enough lazy days for the cold to run it's course before getting to Leticia.

I caught a tuk-tuk back to the port, paid for my passage and found a spot to hang my hammock.

The first consideration for a hammock location is a power outlet. I looked around the 2nd and 3rd decks and I only found one on the 2nd deck, so that is were I hung my hammock. Other things to consider are light bulbs, how close to the toilets and showers. I haven't been on a boat were they smelled enough to be a problem, but why take a chance. I was the first to stake out my spot on this large empty deck. The only outlet I saw was on the green post in front of that wooden structure (protection from getting burned on the exhaust stack). Decision made.

After hanging my hammock, I headed back off the boat to by some supplies for the trip. There are many small shops that sell everything that you need prior to boarding.

The meal is not included for the first night, so I needed to buy a take out meal for that first evening. Other things I bought were: a quarter watermelon, a pineapple, a knife to cut the fruit, ropes to hang my hammock, toilet paper (everyone brings there own. There is none on board), an extra liter of water, a plastic tuperware type container to get food on board and a spoon. The boat will provide food, but you need to bring your own container or plate and utensils.

Back at the boat, I hung my hammock and began the wait for departure. I used that time to test of my hammock by taking a nap and exploring the boat.

I was one of a couple people that booked passage at that time.

Yurimaguas has access to the world by road. So most of the supplies for Iquitos come from there. My expectations are the boat will head to Yurimaguas pretty empty.

We pulled out of our initial spot before 5 to move to another nearby location next to a fuel barge whose top deck was full of propane cylinders. Apparently empties going back to Yurimaguas to be filled. They loaded several hundred cylinders before be finally left port at 7:30.

8

There was a hint of a sunset over the city before we left. By the time we pulled out, it was totally dark.

In the right side of the picture. Local residents are seen taking their evening bath in the river.

The boats travel all day and night only stopping in route to drop off or pickup more passengers and cargo.

By the time we left, there were still less than 12 passengers on board. A mix of single travelers, a lady with her young son. Another couple with a young daughter and on the lower deck a family of 6.

 

We pulled out of port after loading several hundred empty propane cylinders at 7:30. It took a crew of about 8 workers to move them from the adjacent fuel barge onto the boat that I am on the Linares III.

The sun had already set. The sunset was over the city. Not spectacular, but still nice.

Just as we were leaving, it started to rain. Nicely cooling down from the heat of the day.

Nothing more to do today and except hunker down for the e5vening and night. Not so easy finding a comfortable position in a hammock.

The boat will continue the journey up river 24/7 until we get to Yurimaguas. The only time it may stop is to pickup or off load passengers or cargo.