Blogs from Ica, Peru, South America

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South America » Peru » Ica » Pisco January 16th 2023

San Martin (Pisco), Peru is a short distance south of Lima and an overnight at sea found us arriving at the port in early morning. On Friday, January 13, 2023, on the way to Callao (Lima), Peru, the cruise director had offered Port Talk: General San Martin (Pisco), Peru – our port of call on Monday, January 16, 2023. We were told that the only points of interest in the area are the Paracas National Reserve and the seaside village of Paracas. From the optional tour description for Paracas National Reserve: “Paracas National Reserve is a stunning ecological reserve located in the coastal desert. Begin your day with a visit to the interpretive site to learn about all the different species that are protected in this area, and also the evolution of this part of the ... read more
Misc. Pictures of/around/aboard Holland America’s MS Volendam
In/Around Pisco, Peru
In/Around Pisco, Peru

South America » Peru » Ica » Paracas July 23rd 2019

Dear All Greetings from Paracas, a small but wonderful town on the Peruvian desert coast about 4 hours south of Lima. I arrived here on Saturday afternoon, and have had an absolutely incredible time here. These last few days have really been filled with fantastic sights and adventures, really quite unique ones, and have reminded me once more why it is that I travel – to see more and to learn more about this beautiful world that we live in. What a pleasure it has been! So on Saturday morning I bade farewell, temporarily, to my hotel in Lima and took a taxi to the Cruz del Sur bus station south of the city centre. Cruz del Sur is supposed to be the country’s best intercity bus service, and I have to say it has probably ... read more
Sea Lions
Me, Scott and Casey
The Astronaut

South America » Peru » Ica » Nazca » Nazca Lines November 4th 2018

This is our last tour in Peru and so will be my last blog. All good times come to an end. And so our trip to Peru! But I was waiting for this icing on the cake – Nazca lines! And boy, was I excited! You see, I never got out of my childhood dream of imagining aliens. I loved ET. And I loved to believe that Nazca lines were actually created by the aliens. And I knew I was not thinking rationally…there are many credible theories about who created those lines all over the Nazca Mountains. It didn’t matter to me. I felt it thrilling to imagine that aliens came from the outer space, landed from the spacecraft, created those lines and disappeared. Why? Because I am crazy! So, how could I say Good Bye ... read more
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Spider
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South America » Peru » Ica » Ica October 27th 2018

It has been a go-go-go for the last seven days and we were swamped. So when the wake-up call came @5 am, we really didn’t want to get up. The last time…I told myself. Well, I always wanted to see the Nazca lines and Ica desert is just on our way. So why not have some fun doing the monkey business as I always do! Only difference is I dragged Suman this time…haha! ***** We were picked up around 6-ish and the cab drove us straight to the Lima bus station. It was a day trip to see the Ica desert and the Nazca lines. We knew it would be a long day. The hotel prepared us packed sandwiches for the road. Hardly there was any traffic during the 15 minute ride to the bus station. ... read more
The town of Paracus
The Dune buggy!
Suman measuring her coordinates

South America » Peru » Ica » Ica October 14th 2018

We woke at 5:15 AM to prepare for our 6-6:30 AM pickup at the hotel for the ride to Ica to experience the Nazca Lines Overflightarranged by Kaypi Peru Tours. Hotel Allpa gave us a box breakfast that included apple-peach juice, an apple, poppyseed cake, three little brioche buns with ham and cheese and we grabbed a coffee to go. Jorge, our guide for the day, met us in the lobby. There were only two of us as we climbed into the small 10 seater van with driver Paulo for our private 4 hour ride to Ica where we would catch our plane for the Nazca Line overflight. Jorge gave us another box breakfast with a meat empanada, poppyseed cake, chocolate cookie, apple-peach juice and water. The meat empanada was much better than the chicken empanada ... read more
Pan-American Highway
Deli-Bakery on Pan-Am Highway
Huaca Centinela pre-Columbian pyramids in Chincha

South America » Peru » Ica » Paracas August 22nd 2018

From the north to the south of Lima the landscape changes from high altitude mountains to desert landscape that is accompanied by the Pacific. There's small town called Paracas which is a popular spot to stop for a few nights. It was good to be back in to some warmth and less altitude and we didn't think about coming here until a couple we had met in the Galapagos were staying here and we thought that it would be a good opportunity to catchup with them and see what all the fuss was about. Paracas has some cool things to see and do. One trip everyone does is to take a boat to visit Los Ballestas islands (or poor mans Galapagos) which consists of thousands of birds including nazca boobies, comorants and terns and it also ... read more
Sea Lions On Isla Ballestas
Huacachina Dunes
Huacachina

South America » Peru » Ica » Nazca » Nazca Lines June 12th 2018

The Nazca Lines (10/06/2018-11/06/2018) What: 300 different figures depicting animals, plants, human beings, lines, and geometric shapes etched into the arid desert; most made from 1 single, continuous line. Where: Located in Southern Peruvian desert, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. When: Carved 500 B.C. - A.D. 500 Why: Who the hell knows! How: Not a scooby. The Nazca Lines in Peru, one of the World’s great mysteries! Who made them? Why did they make them? What purpose did they serve? In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s when commercial air travel was taking off (excuse the pun), we were able to see our World through a totally different perspective. Pilots flying over Peru’s desert started reporting peculiar images and markings etched into the vast and arid land below. Since then, many people all over ... read more
My Nazca Lines Group
Can you spot the image?
The Monkey

South America » Peru » Ica » Huacachina June 11th 2018

Ica and Huacachina (07/06/2018-11/06/2018) Brandy, Buggies, and Boarding My one night stop turned into a four night stop. I was well and truly enchanted by this surreal Peruvian desert city oasis. Looking like something out of a Hollywood movie, Huacachina is a tiny village just west of the city of Ica in southwestern Peru. The gorgeous green waters of the Huacachina lagoon (which are thought to have therapeutic properties) are surrounded by palm trees and beautiful endless golden sand dunes. Originally I stayed in Ica the first night but quickly realised Huacachina is the place to be, although it is muy caro (very expensive) at 35 soles a night (£8.17). It is said that the lagoon was created from a princess whose voice was so beautiful that it made people cry. They called her the “Huacca ... read more
The Lagoon
The Sand Buggy
Sunset

South America » Peru » Ica » Paracas March 8th 2018

Day four/evening and day five. Surprises in the restaurant and expectations exceeded in Peru. Starting off with last night’s formal do. We booked a 7:30 pm slot at the restaurant as we had the night before. When we arrived the greeter pulled us to one side and said “ Sir, you don’t need to book, you are club class.” Turns out being club class (which was a free upgrade princess gave us) not only secured us the mini suite but means we get priority service at the restaurant. We get our own cordoned off area with our own wait staff and, best of all, a chef who cooks one item for us not on the menu or available to anyone else. Talk about upgrade! It was awesome and we thoroughly enjoyed that as a totally different ... read more

South America » Peru » Ica » Paracas November 11th 2017

I rented a bicycle in town and biked to Playa la Mina of The Reserve. Spent the night camping out on the beach under the stars. I met Jana while waiting for a bus to Lima. As the bus pulled up I looked inside and she caught my attention. I found her attractive at first sight. Jana, was from Germany, but her English sounded American. She was an awesome travel buddy. We chatted on the bus ride to Piso, where we caught another bus to Lima.... read more
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