Pelican, Penguin & Co

Peru is really showing its best side. We discover new dreamlike places every day and it feels like we are in a different world after a few hours of bus ride. From the mountains in Cusco, we continued to Huacachina in the desert. So off we went, our beloved snack bag was well filled and we drove 18 hours with the night bus. It sounded terribly long at first, but the time passed relatively well. Luckily, the seats were so comfortable that we could sleep well and we could spend the rest of the time eating and watching series. Well, I have to admit, it wasn't quite so idyllic, due to the curves, altitude differences, and heat, I felt so sick for a moment that the sickness bag was ready. :D But luckily we made it without any further disasters. Unfortunately, the poor passengers in front of and behind us did not. :D

In Huacachina, we were greeted with a completely new natural landscape. A small oasis in the middle of the sand dunes. Hard to put into words and capture in photos, but an incredible feeling of freedom to stand in the middle of sand, dunes, and nothingness. Of course, we didn't miss out on all the fun here either, like driving buggies or sandboarding, and otherwise just enjoying some peace and warmth. Relaxing was also important because we were a bit exhausted from the altitude and the exertion of the past few days, and our bodies were slowly starting to protest. Fun fact: not so cool when you sleep in a room with 14 people, share a toilet, feel a little unwell, and suddenly the flush stops working. And here we are again with the topic - everything always looks beautiful and sounds easy, but sometimes it's really a little battle. :D

Well, luckily that didn't really hold us back and we continued from Huacachina to the coast to Paracas. Luckily, the time of curvy bus rides is over and the journey went unusually without nausea. Jackpot.

We had actually no expectations for Paracas itself and were then pleasantly surprised to an extent that I consider this place one of my favorite places in South America. We booked a super cozy hostel right on the beach with good vibes, backpackers from all over the world, and simply let our souls dangle for a few days. On the nearby Ballestas Island and in the national park, we even saw penguins, pelicans, flamingos, dolphins, sea lions, and more. Our wildlife list is now truly complete - lucky ones. And with all these great impressions and one more piercing in the ear, we're off to Lima now.

Hard to believe, but the 3 nights in Lima are actually our last nights in South America.

Of course, there are still many more adventures to come after South America, but I'm still somehow sad that this chapter is coming to an end. Anyway, for now, we will enjoy the next few days and then it's time for the next plans. After all, it's not time to think about tomorrow yet! :)