South of Lima along the Pan-American Highway there are a number of attractions less than a day’s journey from the capital Lima.
The Paracas National Reserve
Less than 240 km from Lima, on Peru’s arid desert coast, is the Paracas National Reserve – the country’s only maritime national park and one of the most important ocean wildlife reserves in the world. The reserve is accessed from the port of Pisco, a small town which lives from its fishing industry and offers travellers a wide range of accommodation and plenty of good, local seafood restaurants.
Just off the Paracas peninsula the cold Humboldt ocean current wells up from the seabed to create some of the world’s most fertile waters, and the resultant abundance of micro organisms forms the basis of a food chain which includes seals, Humboldt penguins, dolphins, thousands of seabirds, condors which come down from the Andes and, of course, humankind: it is thanks to these bountiful waters that some 9,000 years ago the first human settlers came to this otherwise inhospitable desert coast.
Half-day tours of the Paracas peninsula include the Julio C. Tello Museum, with its well-displayed collection of pre-Inca Paracas culture textiles and other artefacts, as well as a flamingo colony, the small fishing community of Lagunillas and the beautiful rocky coast – including the rock formation known locally as “La Catedral”.
Tambo Colorado
Driving south through the desert along the Pan-American Highway to Pisco, it is possible to visit the archaeological remains of Tambo Colorado on the way. This seldom-visited site is one of the best-preserved Inca ruins on the Peruvian coast, with some of the walls even retaining their original colours.
Ica
Although Peru’s Pacific coast is one of the world’s driest deserts, it is crisscrossed by a number of rivers which emerge from the high Andes and flow down to the sea, creating fertile valleys which have been extended since pre-Inca times through complex irrigation systems. One such valley is that formed by the Ica River. The department of Ica (with its eponymous regional capital) is Peru’s main wine producing region, with some local wineries also producing pisco, a white grape brandy which is Peru’s national drink.
Just beyond the city limits, the oasis of Huacachina is a tranquil spot ideal for relaxation. The lake is set amid dramatic sand dunes and ringed by palm trees, a promenade, a few small restaurants and hostels, and its waters are said to possess curative powers. For those looking for a little more excitement, dune buggies and sand boards are available for hire.
The Nazca Lines
Located some 400 kilometres south of Lima, the small town of Nazca lies in a fertile valley surrounded by barren desert and bathed in bright sunshine all year round. Those visitors who stay in its small hotels and eat in the local, family-run restaurants come to see the famous Nazca Lines. These gigantic geometric, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic designs were etched on the desert floor by the region’s ancient inhabitants from about 400 BC over a period lasting some one thousand years.
The only way to appreciate the enormous scale of the Nazca Lines is to view them from the air, which is how they were discovered in the 1930s. Small planes leave from the local airport and take small groups of three to five people on a spectacular 35-minute flight just a few hundred metres above the desert floor, from where they can see the extraordinary designs, which include a gigantic hummingbird, a whale, a spider and a monkey.
Programs:
| Lima / Nazca / Ica / Paracas (3 days / 2 nights) |
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| Day 1 |
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During the bus journey from Lima to Nazca we will visit the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac. This temple was once the most important religious site beyond the city of Cusco, and both pre-Inca and Inca cultures worshipped there until it was sacked by the Spanish. We will also have time to visit the interesting Ica regional museum. Overnight in Nazca. |
| Day 2 |
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Weather conditions are most favourable for flying over the Nazca Lines in the mornings, as the desert wind tends to strengthen in the afternoons. These gigantic geometric and zoomorphic designs were carved into the desert floor over a thousand year period right up to Inca times. In the afternoon we will drive to Ica, spending the afternoon at the desert oasis lake of Huacachina as well as having time to relax in the hotel. |
| Day 3 |
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Driving to Paracas, we will embark on a launch for our visit to the fauna rich Ballestas Islands of the Paracas National Reserve – Peru’s only maritime wildlife reserve. That afternoon we return to Lima. Transfer to hotel. |
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| Lima / Ica / Paracas (2 days / 1 night) |
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| Day 1 |
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Lima to Ica. |
| Day 2 |
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Ica – Paracas – Lima. |
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Ballestas Islands (half day)
Nazca Lines - flight from Nazca (half day)
Nazca Lines - flight from Ica (half day) |
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| Ica wine tour (2 days / 1 night) |
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