Paracas – Where the desert meets the sea

A few hours south of Lima is Paracas, a small town, a peninsula, a bay, a nature reserve and once home to the pre-Inca culture of the same name. This little piece of paradise brings together many of the best places in Peru: the clear sea, the unspoiled nature with many protected wild animals, historical sites and a bit of the fascination of past cultures.

The Paracas Natural Reserve is formed by the Peninsula and Bahía de Paracas, as well as by the Ballestas Islands, a small archipelago off the coast. Although the sometimes sterile landscape makes it difficult to guess, this is a true paradise for animals: thousands of species of birds live here, including blue-footed boobies, pelicans and Humboldt penguins. But the visitors of our latitudes that whistle pass the cold winter in the house, more than in Paracas.

Paracas is located about 240 km from Lima. By car you need about 4.5 hours. The track can relax because the Panamericana is very well developed until shortly before Paracas.