3 days on a boat to Yuamiguas

AFter my jungle expedition, I planned to take a 3 day boat ride from Iquitos to Yuamagua. From there ill spend 2 days on a bus to get me back to Lima, hopefully in time before my flight on Thursday night.

I went down to the docks on saturday to find a boat leaving within a few hours. I quickly went home, got my stuff, said goodbye, and took the mototaxi back to the boat. I was told it was 70soles, and i told the woman, my friend told me it was only 50, and asked for a discount. When she was writing up my reciept, i noticed she wrote 50 down as the price, and then told me not to say anything. Ha...i wont, thank you!!!

I had 5 days to get back to lima and only enough money to get me there, so any i could save along the way, would help.

On the boat, It was already packed with hammocks hanging from the ceiling. I was standing next to a family, and the man told me i could put my hammock up next to theirs. Squeezed in between his and another guy. He helped me put mine up, and i was set. Behind me where 2 other ´gringo´backpackers and i tied my bags together and pushed them back against a pole, next to their bags.

Talking with the family, they had 4 kids. The 3 that were with them was a baby, a 2yr old girl, and a 5 or 6 yr old boy. They were all cute and playful. Waiting for the boat to leave the port, i went to stand along the railing and met 2 new younger guys. They asked all sorts of questions about what i did in Iquitos, the jungle, where i was going, and that i was flying home to the States on Thursday. After joking around with them for a while, i went back to my hammock. It was dark, and i was tired. So an early night it was going to be.

3 days on a boat, there is not much to do. I luckily had a brand new book to start reading. And spent most of my time absorbed into the book. I talked with my hammock neighbors, and the two guys i met the night before, would stop by my hammock and talk to me. When we would arrive at a village, they would invite me to walk over to the railings to check it out. I talked with the other 2 girls who were from Germany, and met 2 more backpackers. Another America girl from Minnesota and her Colombian boyfriend.

At one point, while sitting in my hammock. The dad next to me started to take off a bandage around the little 2yr old girls hand. I was watching and noticed she had a huge cut, gouge in the webspace between her thunb and first finger. I pulled out my med kit, and gave them some gauze and put some natural stuff on it. I also offered arnica, which im surprised he gave to her. I told them my job in the states was in medicine. And told him the medicine i had was natural. Even the next day, when the little girl had a fever and wasnt feeling well. I pulled out my handy dandy travelkit of remedies, and found one to give to her. With in a half hour she was playing around and laughing again. Its crazy how much this stuff works. They were very grateful and thanked me for helping.

They got off in a village the night before reaching Yuamaguas, where i was going. So in the middle of the night, i woke up to see them packing up their stuff. Waved goodbye and the Dad, shook my hand and said safe travels. Thanks, ciao!

My other 2 guys friends, slowly got off at other villages along the way, and i was slowly loosing friends. Before we got to Iquitos, i talked with the other gringos about what their plans were. The other MN girl and her Colombian boyfriend had similar plans to me. We were able to buy a bus ticket for Tarapoto on the boat, and after getting to the port, took a mototaxi straight to the station. Within a half hour, we were loaded on the bus and heading to Taraporto. Very easy. In Tarapoto we found a bus leaving within 2 hours toward Chiclayo. From there, they were going to stay a few days, and i was going to continue on to Lima.

We had the best seats on the bus, right up front, 3rd row, which was on the level floor. The 2 seats infront were a step up, so i could rest my feet on that step. This was the best seat ive had in all of my 7 month traveling. Usually you have no where to put your feet, and i could comfortably, lay them out infront at a perfect level! After a 16hr night bus ride, we arrived at 7am in Chiclayo. Found out the next bus for Lima would be at 7pm that night, i bought my ticket, and left with the couple to find them a hostel. I took them to the same hostel i stayed at when i visited Chiclayo in June.

While they got ready, i went to check my email to find out my flight had been cancelled. ¨Shit. nothing i can do until i get to Lima, so we went out to adventure the town. We walked to the plaza, down to the huge market, and i showed them all the crazy things i remembered from when i was their before. We tried ceviche, rawfish in lime sauce with onions. and an interesting friut smoothy with a black beer and egg in it. Not too good. I bought some last minute presents, and we went back to the hostel.

We changed into our swimsuits, and the Columbian guy, trying to improve his english asked if i had a waterproof suit. His girlfriend clearified he ment a swimsuit. I said, yes, i have a swimsuit but its not waterproof. We found the collectivo bus we needed to take us to the beach. And after 30 minutes, they dropped us off on the corner and pointed down the street. Thats where the playa is. So we walked around, feet in the cold at first water, but felt really warm after a minute. Walked under the huge pier and up along down the pier.

After a while, we sat along the edge of the walk, and the Colombian wanted to buy a beer for this was my last day with them. We enjoyed our drink, before walking back to get another bus back to town. I quickly showered, got a burger, and packed up my bags. I got rid of as much stuff as i could, and whatever stuff they would want for their travels. Then they walked with me back to the bus station. I said goodbye to my new friends, exchanged emails, and got on my bus.

I spent an extra 5soles, and got the semi cama(bed) seat on the lower level of the bus. They are usually more comfortable and made friends with the woman sitting next to me. Wasnt long before it got dark, and so i bundled up with my scarf and attempted to fall asleep early. For i had 12 hours on this bus, and sleeping for most of the way.