One of our overnight stops while in Peru, was a pretty basic resort in the middle of what seemed like nowhere, at Puerto Inka (or Inca). Its saving grace was the amazing Incan ruins just behind the hotel. We’d already seen the desert mummies so we knew what mummy remains looked like, and human remains and wadding were all over this place. We had just enough time before sunset to check out the ruins before heading back for dinner.
I’m not sure where the other tourists were, probably hogging the hot water after our journey, but Mum and I were the only people to be seen around this once thriving Incan port town. Stone walls, outlines of buildings, burial tombs, sand and mummy fluff.
The landscape is so desolate, its hard to believe that anyone could live here. I’m guessing they did a lot of fishing!
And seriously, is there no one that understands English well enough to translate the signs before they put them up? 🙂
For more on travel through Peru, click here.
14 Weeks Worth of Socks 
Was the area totally bereft of vegetation?
Completely, much of the areas of Peru we saw was desert.
I wonder if there had been significant climate change in the coastal areas since the time this area was inhabited. Any thoughts on that?
Good question but I really don’t know sorry.
I think it has probably always been very dry. There is a massive cold current flowing up the west coast of Sth America and the air above is cold and cold air doesn’t hold much moisture. It is the same on the west coast of Africa and Australia and Mexico and Baja California. That’s where all the deserts are and the deserts stop as they approach the mountains. Sorry for the Geography lesson but I would usually take a couple of weeks with a year ten class.
See I knew someone more cleverer than me would know 🙂 Thanks for the great info, makes sense. I would think there must be a spring or oasis or something similar nearby for fresh water?
Yes probably underground from the mountains.