Poormans Galapagos and sandboarding in the dunes

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We left Lima in the Dragoman truck, drove down to Paracas, then sailed for a couple of hours around the Ballestas Islands, they are called the "poor mans Galapagos" - they're pretty good for wildlife though, hundreds of sealions, penguins, and more birds in one place than Ive seen anywhere before. The Islands are also mine for their guano every few years, its a great fertiliser - not a job I would fancy though.

After lunch we headed into the sand dunes, most of the west coast of south america is desert, certainly in Peru. We went on dune buggies which was like a roller coaster ride, then laid on a snowboar type thing and slid down the sand dunes. I only did the first one, to say Id done it - a few people did all three.

Then we set up camp in the desert, luckily with someone to make us a barbeque and provide the pisco cola. A great evening around the camp fire, then bed, no tents - just in sleeping bags on top of the sand. It was amazing, so quiet and the stars were so bright.

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