After Arequipa we weren't sure where to stop for the night because there was a huge stretch of road between Nazca and Arequipa and our guidebook didn't cover it. A very nice and very organized german couple who stayed next to us in the Mercedes Hostel campsite shared all the GPS locations of all the campsites they had for Peru with me. Puerto Inca was the only things they had between Arequipa and Nazca, but all they told me for this one was the name and the coordinates and we didn't know anything else. When we arrived after 6 long hours of driving, we were beyond pleasantly surprised. This is one of our nicest campsites we've had so far.
It turns out Puerto Inca what remains of the main fishing port for the Inca based in Cusco, and is actually a pretty important site. There is an inlet in a scenically rocky shore, and on both sides of the inlet are pretty extensive ruins, and in the center is a hotel with restaurant and camping area. It is really beautiful and relaxing there, and as our first time, in our whole time on the trip, to be on the beach, it was very special.
We spent two nights here, wandering around the ruins, eating ceviche, playing guitar, reading, and completely enjoying the location.
If you are thinking about trying to visit Puerto Inca, it is on Kilometer 610 of the Panamericana, a little north of the town of Chala (good food) and about 150 ams south of Nazca. I think it is about 15 soles per person and there are bathrooms and cold showers. The hotel owners are very nice and the restaurant has pleasant service and good, if slightly expensive, food.
Vultures make this coastline their home.
A view of our campsite from the area of the ruins of the Incan port.
The rocky outcrop at the end of the point, with a vulture overhead.
The water was a lovely blue color.
Ruins of the Incan port's storage area.
We had a delicious fish lunch at a restaurant in nearby Chala. They had a weird little collection of preserved sea creatures.
At the ruins there were several stone funerary enclosures full of human bones and fully exposed to the outside. Kind of bizarre.
A section of the ruins overlooking the ocean.
Nazca
