Tingo Maria
Tingo Maria was a further 6–7 hours south. The road wound down next to the river (Huallaga) and crossed it at various points. There were a lot of fallen rocks and only one lane in some places where the surface had collapsed, sometimes with trees growing up from below where the road used to be.
The journey was hot, but well managed. Glenn Gonzalez and I arrived in Tingo Maria at around lunch time.
We wandered about a bit and found out from the locals that there were various waterfalls nearby that were worth going to. Tingo Maria was a two night stop, so the following morning we headed off to a waterfall on the bike. We parked and walked about ten minutes through the jungle to a stream and succession of pools leading up the hill to a waterfall and various people taking photos of themselves. We found a pool a bit out of the way. The water was clean and fresh and snake and croc free, according to Glenn Gonzalez, who carried out a search using full diving gear.
We spent two nights in Tingo Maria, eating and watching football. It would be our last stop in the selva.
The hills behind the town are said to look like a woman lying on her back, depending on how drunk you are.
The hotel had an excellent and highly secure car park, so the bike could be part loaded the night before our dawn exit.
