The beauty of Mother Nature

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With an early bus from Lima we arrived in the little coastal village of Pisac. The only reason to be there is to make a trip to the Ballestas Islands and the National Reserve of Paracas. So we used the day to shop around to find the cheapest and best organized trip, cause that´s the only way to get there. My God, prizes can be really very diverse for the same trip, from 35 soles to 35 dollars! Thanks to the hostel where we stayed, we booked a really cheap and good trip.

Because of the bad weather at the see, the port seemed to be closest at the day that we wanted to leave. So we had to change our plans and be a little bit flexible, but it gave us the opportunity to visit Tambo Colorada and the oasis of Huacacina. The day after we went finally on our trip to the ballestas islands in the morning and to the National Reserve of Paracas in the afternoon. That same day we accepted the challenge to get in Arequipa...

Tambo Colorado

This Inca settlement was named for the red paint that once completely covered its adobe walls. It is one of the best preserved sites on the south coast. It was built in the late 15th century to controll the local populations and the highlands trafic. It was like a labyrint where you can get completely lost. Nearby we found a lot of graves with bones. We have no idea from which era this bones and skulls were, cause there was nobody to explain. Yes, no hasselment! What a relief in a country where every family has a guide as belgian families used to have "tante nonneke" once...

Huacacina

This tiny resort village, dominated by a backdrop of giant dunes, nestles next to a small lagoon. Graceful palm trees, colorful flowers and attractive buildings in pastel shades cluster around the picturesque lagoonThe waters supposedly have curative properties... You can rent sand-boards to slide from the dunes or a seat in an arenero ( sandbuggie) to explorew the dessert. We didn´t rent anything but made fun ourself by walking up the dunes( yep, a tuff job) and to roll down, amazing! From the dunes we saw an beautiful sunrise, maybe the most magical one so far...

Ballestas Islands

: These spectacular islands, eroded into many caves and arches, provide shelter for thousands of seabirds and hundreds of sea-lions. Although the islands fall just outside the Paracas National Reserve they are protected by separate legislation. The islands are home to over 150 species of marine bird including the Humboldt penguin, cormorants, boobies and pelicans. Even condors have been known to visit. On the shores can be seen large numbers of sea-lions and in the sea it is possible to encounter dolphins and even whales. When we were on the way to the islands we spotted a lovely Flipper! It seems that dolphins like human visitor, cause this ons was really curious and came pretty close...
At the islands I saw Finding Nemo´s Pelican and adorable seals, it was really great. Marco told me that this is considered the Galapagos Islands of Peru, cause the flora is similiar...

Visitors are not allowed onto the islands but views of the wildlife from the boat are usually excellent. We also passed the 'Candelabro' - a 50m candelabra-shape traced in the desert hillside overlooking the sea. Their are numerous theories as to its origin... Which I all forgot, sorry, I gave my memory also holiday!

The area within the Reserve played an important role in the Peruvian economy during the mid-nineteenth century. Vast quantities of 'guano' (birds' droppings) produced by the seabirds was exported to Europe for use as fertilizer. For many decades this industry was Peru's most important source of revenue.

National Reserve de Paracas

With a small group and under supervision of a green-guide we visited the national reserve. First we made a stop at some museum to understand more about the fauna and flora of the reserve. A short walk down from the museum to the edge of Paracas Bay allows us to see several types of birds including flamingos (!)feeding by the waterside. We drove also to see a cliff which is called The Cathedral because of the shape. The end of the trip was a nice lunch near a beach where several commercials has been recorded because of the unusual colours.


After the trip, where we met a nice and helpfull Belgian couple, we rushed to the next stop, Arequipa. It´s a really nice city at the foot of the Misti Vulcano. It is the ideal base to prepare yourself for a trekking in the Colca Canion....It took us a trip in a collectivo, two buses and few hours waiting in Ica to get there, but it was worth...

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