Pisco to Nazca
Trip Start
Dec 29, 2008
1
9
77
Trip End
Mar 22, 2009
Nasca,
Peru
Sunday, January 4, 2009
We joined a tour to Ballestas Islands (15USD) and jumped into a tourist boat with life jackets with broken zips. The water was very clam in the harbour and a fog hung low creating a feeling of mystery.
'Candelabra' on the Paracas peninsula
The first sight was the 'candelabra' which is styled similar to the Nazca lines, but has nothing to do with them. Noone really knows why its there or who created it. The candelabra is situated on the Paracas peninsula, which is named after Paraocas which means sandstorm. 
Birds on the Ballestas Islands
The ocean swell increased and the wnd began to cool further as we ventured further out towards the Ballestas Islands. Ballestas means arch and there was a large rock arch in the centre as we approached the islands. The whole group of islands is teeming with wildlife.
Sealions at the Ballestas Islands
As we cruised around we spotted Pelicans, Boobies (Peruvian, not blue footed), Peruvian Sea gulls, Sea lions, Humboldt penguins... The boat drove right up close to all of these and they weren't shy of tourists or photographs. Some of the sea lions in particular seemed to be playing it up for the visitors. 
Wharf for dropping off the 'guano' workers
The Ballestas islands are famous for producing large quantities of Guano (bird poo) and there were wharfs and huts for the workers who collected the guano. One island is only worked on every seven years, so when the workers go there the island is covered in 2 feet of guano. Back on the mainland we bussed up the road to Huacachina to a small oasis in the middle of large sand dunes. Most of our group chose the dune buggy and sand borading (15USD) option, and strapped ourselves in for a wild ride. It was like a rollercoaster with massive dips and occasional air! We stopped for some landscape views before our first sand boarding. We were given snowboard like board to grip onto as we slid down the sand dunes. The first dune was pretty tame, but the next two got steeper and steeper. Luckily we didn't have to walk back up the dunes. Instead the buggy came down to pick all of us up.
Dune buggy ride at Huacachina
Dune buggy ride
Sandboarding down the dunes
By the time we got back to the oasis we were all exhilarated but also very hot and thirsty. We were stopping at the oasis for lunch, and this meant we were allowed to use their pool.
Oasis of Huacachina
After a delicious lunch by the pool, in >35C temperatures, we jumped back in our minivan for a short drive down the road is a 'Pisco' distillery. Pisco is a grape brandy and after seeing the dusty pits and ancient equipment used to make it, we were able to taste the amazingly clear liquid. Apparently it can only be called Pisco if it is grown in the region south of Lima to the Chilean border and below 800m above sea level. The way to tell if its genuine is to shake the bottle and the liquid should form a tornado inside.
Nazca lines from viewing platform
On the road again we travelled through arid mountains to the part of the Pan American highway that cuts through the Nazca lines. When the highway was constructed they didn't realise the lines were there. From a viewing platform (30cUS) a couple of the formations could be seen. It was only a short drive more to the town of Nazca. After booking flights to see the lines for the following morning we visited the Planetarium (6USD) at the Nazca Hotel. This explained different theories about the Nazca lines and although it was interesting, it dragged on a bit.
Dinner was really good and had a 'show' There were four guys playing at least 6 instruments between them at a time (such as guitars and pan flutes). They were alright, but one of the guys came round and demanded a tip from us, which we all thought was quite rude.
