Paracas - Sea meets Desert

On Friday around 8:00 p.m., we arrived at the Kokopelli Hostel in Paracas. We didn't like the hostel very much because we slept in a dormitory with 8 people, and many people are only in Paracas to party. The next morning, we took a boat trip to the "Islas Ballestas". On the way to the islands, we made a stop to observe a desert formation. There are different theories about this desert formation. Some believe it represents a Candelabrum and is from the same time as the Nazca Lines. However, this theory contradicts the depth of this image, as it is much deeper than the Nazca Lines. Some think it represents a cactus. I also thought it was a cactus. However, since the Incas celebrated many ceremonies, a Candelabrum would be more logical, as there is no special meaning for a cactus.

The tour lasted about 2 hours and was beautiful. We saw Humboldt penguins, sea lions, crabs, and many different bird species. In the afternoon, we took a bus (free tour with Peru-Hop) to the Paracas National Park. We were told that the desert has different colors because originally millions of years ago, the ocean covered the entire desert. The colors were created by the remaining minerals at the bottom. I especially liked the "Playa Roja" with its red beach and great cliffs.

This morning was the highlight. We went back to the National Park, but this time for paragliding. Unfortunately, we didn't fly for more than 10-15 minutes. However, the view, the excitement, and the fun were overwhelming. But when Emily asked the guide how long he had been working as a paraglider and he answered "for 3 weeks" while we were flying, she got a little nervous 😂.

Today around 5:30 p.m., we will take the bus to Lima. Until then, we will enjoy the view of the sea and sit on the beach.