Paracas

We arrived and were hounded by people trying to get us to stay in their hotel. Our goal was to come to Paracas, see the Islas Ballestas and move on to Lima. I was also interested to see this areas as this is where the huge earthquake struck in 2007, leaving many buildings ruined and killing hundreds. Most of the people that died were from a town called Pisco, which is about 5km from Paracas where we were staying. The main hotel in Paracas was destroyed and you can see piles of rubble where buildings are being replaced.

The candleabra

We needed to stay for the evening and took the first boat out in the morning to the islands. The trip only lasted about two hours in total, and the actual viewing of the island only lasted about 30 to 40 minutes in total, but it was well worth it. Unfortunately, I felt as sick as a dog when I woke up again. I have no idea why, but I decided to go on the trip anyway as I would not get another chance.

Sea lions and birds everywhere!

Our first sight was the "Candelabra" which is another thing that is similar to the Nasca lines. While it is part of the mainland and not part of the islands, it is a stop on the tour of the islands as it can only be seen from a boat and not from the mainland. They are unsure of what it really is or why it is there, but it quite impressive and can be seen from quite far out to sea.

They call the Islas Ballestas the "poor man´s Galapagos," and it is a title well earned. While you do not get to walk on the islands, the amount of birds and sea lions you see from the boat is quite amazing. I have never in my life seen so many birds in one place at one time. It looked as though it was vegetation on the surface of the island, but on closer inspection, it was millions of birds! The beach was covered with more sea lions than I have ever seen in one place as well. We did catch a glimpse of a mother sea lion teaching her calf how to swim. It was amazing! Apparently, when a sea lion calf is born, it remains on land for the first few months of its life. When the time is right, the mother goes with the calf out into the water and teaches it how to swim. The mother will take the calf into deeper waters on her back then let the calf have a go by itself. The mother never strays far, but it was quite amusing to watch the calf lose sight of its mother and start crying until the mother resurfaced and lent it some confidence to continue on. The birds (penguins, Peruvian boobies, sea gulls and many other kinds) all live on this island and you see them all with each other and the sea lions just lounging about. Apparently there are three main reasons why there are so many animals that make these islands there home.

Peruvian Pelicans

1. The availability of food - there are many fish that live in the waters around the island and are pretty much easy pickings for the sea lions as well as the birds...

2. The peace that is offered by the islands - apparently, there are very few, if any, predators on or around the island, offering the wildlife that abounds here to not have to worry for their lives...and

3. The climate - the climate here is warm year around. The islands...and the nearby mainland has only received about 40 to 50cm of rain in the past 25 years!!! They only receive a few millimeters a year!!! It is very dry and warm and offers the wildlife a very consistent and dry place to make their home. Pretty amazing really.

And can you see the penguins?

Ok, well we had a great time viewing the islands before going back and awaiting our next bus onto Lima where we plan on staying for a few days. What a relief!! We have gone from one day to the next, nonstop for almost a week! It has been great though and we have seen many amazing things....now off to Lima!

Look close, this is a beach full of sea lions

Mum and baby sealion

Thousands of birds