Pisco & Paracas - When the Sea Meets the Desert

Today we finally got out of the city. Pisco, which is our next destination, is located 232 km south of Lima. We arrived there after a 3.5-hour bus ride. Pisco is one of the most important port cities in Peru, and its namesake grape brandy and numerous agricultural products are shipped worldwide. Unfortunately, there is not much else for us to explore here. After my friend and Robin arrived in Pisco, we continued to Paracas National Reserve, which is only 17 km away. Robin had already met up with two friends in Lima, who are Indians and live in Canada. I mention this because one of them was able to cook delicious Indian food for us. Unfortunately, one of them had their luggage stolen on the bus ride, so they had to return to Lima first. By now, there were five of us, and we celebrated our reunion in the small port city of Paracas in the evening. 

The next day started with a tour of Paracas National Reserve. It was established in 1975 to protect the animals. The landscape was breathtaking, but it also gave the feeling that there are hardly any survival chances for animals here. Only a few lizards could be seen, who have adapted to the habitat. 

The following day was also wonderful. We took a boat to the Islas Ballestas, also known as the Guano Islands, because of their abundance of guano, a suitable fertilizer made from bird droppings. We also passed by a strange oversized drawing that is about 180 meters high. It is called 'El Candelabro' because of its resemblance to a candlestick. Neither its age nor its meaning is known. As a highlight, we were able to see many seabird species, sea lions, penguins, and even dolphins on the islands.