3-11 Pisco for Tambo Colorado

We gained another hour on the clock last night.  One of the perks of sailing west - a few extra hours thrown in every couple of days.

We actually beat the alarm clock this morning.  Waking up at six when in reality it was only 5am.  Once we are up, we shower and head up to get some breakfast.  Today we're scheduled to do a Princess tour to Tambo Colorado, a well preserved Inca adobe complex.

The ship is docked at the middle of nowhere.  And when we look outside, the view confirms we ARE in the middle of nowhere!  The port is called San Martin and it is located in the Paracas National Reserve, founded to preserve the desert and marine ecosystems.   There is absolutely no vegetation because the area gets literally no rain.

Shot from the moving bus.  You can see the ship on the other sides of the bay.
The ground is baron.  And if you look at the hills by the ship, they look like there's snow.  But it's not.

The ride to Tambo Colorado is about 1.5 hours.  Just getting out of the park takes about 20 minutes.  As we get closer to Pisco & the Pisco River, the terrine changes.  Where there's water, there is life.   In 2007 this town was nearly flattened by an 8.0 earthquake killing close to 500 people.  The area we drive through is very impoverished based on our standards.  Most houses, or more specifically 4 walls are adobe with a woven mat roof.  And there is a lot of areas that are still rubbled.  It was pretty shocking.  Someone said it reminded them of India.

Our boat

Past Pisco we travel along the Pisco River which is dry 10-11 months a year.  Only in the summer is there water in the riverbed.  Close to the base of the Andes mountains we reach the archeological site and spend the next 90 minutes there walking among the rules and listening to our guide as he explains what life was like for the Inca living in the valley 600 years ago.

We're given 30 minutes to walk around on our own and then we're back on the bus heading toward the ship.  Back on ship by 1, we grab a light bite to eat and head back to the room.  Our down time included watching the movie, The Green Book which was recently added to the on demand in-cabin movies.

Around 5, the ship leaves the port.  The temperature has dropped and there is a beautiful, cool breeze on our patio.  Pat, Dean, Linda and Gordy join us for a drink on the balcony as we share stories about out day.  As the sun sets, we head upstairs for a quick bite to eat at the Horizon Court.  It will be to bed early for all of us.  Tomorrow is another busy port day in Lima, Peru.

Another country on the books.