PARACAS - City Rich in Wildlife by the Sea and Desert

Accommodation

Since our online search only brought up very expensive hostels, this time we didn't make a reservation, instead we went to a hostel and rented a room with some bargaining. Solid room, I would say. However, without breakfast, as this in the area usually also always falls very low. Mostly tea/coffee and a bread roll with some jam. You get much more at the bakery for the same money. All in all, the price for three people was okay.

Attractions

Itself Paracas lies on the sea, but also in the desert. The city itself from the buildings is not particularly exciting, but has been known to the Incas due to its geographical peculiarities. There is an incredible diversity of species here. both fish and birds and other land animals. On the offshore islands you will find seals and even penguins. If you drive away a bit from the tourism highlights on the coast, you also see the other commercialization of this treasure. Fishing and thus also fish factories. That also smells pretty strong. When the goods are picked up every few days by several trucks, they even have armed escorts, as there have apparently been a few raids in the past. They would then steal the fresh and preserved fish from the trucks. On the first evening we did not do much besides a beach visit under the setting sun. On the second day, we take a boat tour, look at the Paracas landmark. A sign worked into the mountain, of which one does not really know, when and who left it behind. Maybe it was the aliens ;D With the boat we then go to the islands with their animal inhabitants and get quite wet with salt water on the way back. On the third day we then make a tour with a taxi and let ourselves be impressed by the desert landscape, rugged cliffs. Here we make a stop at the most beautiful beach I have ever been to and of course go swimming. At the end we catch a glimpse of a flock of flamingos, relaxing on the beach, but only from a distance, as they also need their rest zone. On one of the viewpoints, Nina's cap was blown away, after which she climbed down the very steep slope to save her headgear. But everything turned out fine here again.

Plants and Animals

• Flamingos
• Seals
• Penguins

Contact with Locals

On the last day, we then made a tour with a taxi driver. A very chilled person. We got along very well with him. In the end, he took us to the bus station, gave us a few pieces of watermelons and made sure that we were not cheated on the bus price and were not otherwise robbed. The bus station was not very safe. A few funny stories were also included during the tour.

Unsolvable Mysteries

When and who left the sign in the mountain?

Bus to Lima or Ica

Here our paths separate for the first time, as Pascal goes back to Lima to work there. Anja travels with her sister Nina to Ica to explore the wine-growing region. The two have the goal of Ecuador. So their next travel destinations will represent the next blog entries. With Pascal, there's not much interesting to report, except that he works two weeks and then lies flat for a week with food poisoning from (presumably) chicken. After a hospital visit and antibiotics, he recovers though.

Post Scriptum

Again, you can find pictures under https://hoenisch.eu/photo/mo/sharing/MLe17UcGC