Paracas, Ballestas Islands

01/12/2024
We take the Uber to the bus stop in Lima at 11:30, find out that we didn't book the bus to Ica at 12 pm but at 12 am and our bus left long ago haha. But no problem for the Chaos Trio. Because we have Asma with us, we are lucky and there is a bus at 12 noon. We buy another ticket for 14 euros per person (that's manageable) and off we go to the desert oasis. The buses are surprisingly very well equipped with 160° seats and a large selection of films, which we didn't use. Before we left we stocked up on rolls and cheese at the supermarket. On the bus we notice that we all have our pocket knives in our big backpacks and so the avocado had to be destroyed by hand - what a mess :P
After a 4.5 hour drive we arrive in Ica and take the tuktuk to the Bananas Adventure Hostel. On the way there, the tuktuk driver remembers that he doesn't have enough fuel and we have to drive halfway back to the gas station. When we arrive at the hostel, we first treat ourselves to one, two, three cocktails - it's happy hour. Lissi finishes it after the first sip. Asma wonders why she doesn't feel anything from the alcohol - twisted world. After a delicious sandwich on the roof terrace, we all fell into bed dead.

01/13/2024
We share the 4-bed room with an Iranian Majid, a digital nomad who travels the world and shoots videos for travel agencies. Coincidentally, Majid also booked the tour to Paracas, so we all get up at 6 a.m., have breakfast and off we go to the Islas Ballestas. After about an hour's bus ride, we arrive at a harbor area that is overrun with tourists and are put into a speedboat. Unfortunately we sat right at the front so we couldn't feel the wind in our hair, but whatever. Past the fascinating Candelabro de Paracas, a 180 m high geoglyph visible for up to 20 km, which was sunk about half a meter into the hard sandy bottom, we continue to small islands in the sea where penguins, sea lions, pelicans and vultures live (Asma's favorite animals) sleep, poop or scream. We learn that the poop left on the islands is sold as the best fertilizer in the world. Maybe this is our new business idea? ;)
After the boat tour, we continue by bus to the Paracas National Park, a dry desert landscape. We can take photos at various spots. While the other fellow travelers are photographed in sexy poses, we first treat ourselves to an ice cream :D We have lunch in a fish restaurant - Lissi is happy. Asma tries ceviche - raw fish with sweet potatoes, banana chips and Inca corn - and is pleasantly surprised. Lissi contents herself with fries.
After chilling on a completely overcrowded beach for about an hour, we set off on the return journey. In Paracas we say goodbye to Majid and are looking forward to the video of us that he will publish on his private channel.
Back at the hostel we chill out by the pool with Cubra Libre and chat. After an evening walk around the oasis and a cozy sandwich with a view of the lake, we stuff ourselves with pizza. Asma "can't take it anymore after just one piece of pizza", but the chocolate brownie definitely fits in haha, that's why Asma orders it also two (if Scholle hadn't stopped them, even three brownies), which we - who would have thought - only managed with great difficulty.