We didn’t go to Pisco, which the guidebook talks about as the base for the island tours, since everyone told us there wasn’t much there after the earthquake destroyed it last August. We went straight to Paracas, which is a tiny little village where the boat tours leave from anyway. This town has had some apparent damage too, but probably not as much as Ica just because it’s smaller. There really doesn’t seem to be anything to do in town aside from the boat tour to the islands and the reserver just south. There’s a small strip with overpriced restaurants near the pier.
The following morning we went down to that pier for the tour. We were with a huge group of British teenagers. As usual, the Peruvian guide used a microphone that had terrible sound quality and we could barely hear. A couple minutes out we saw some dolphins jumping a long ways away. Another few minutes out we saw the candelabra figure that’s blazed into a hillside. The real cool factor didn’t start until we got to the islands though.
There’s thousands of birds and bird poop all over the rocks. Back in the day the bird guano was Peru’s largest export and very valuable as fertilizer. I don’t think it is so much anymore. The funnest part of all was watching the little groups of Humboldt penguins jump around on the rocks. They really are awkward looking on land, but oh so cute. There were a ton of boobies too, not blue footed, but other types. And finally, while not nearly as cute as penguins, the sea lions are always entertaining.
Unfortunately, Laura was battling stomach problems and was knocked out of commission the rest of the day. Brendan also had a cold, but it didn’t stop him from joining us for a tour of the Paracas reserve, which like almost all the countryside around, is mostly desert. Our tour guide didn’t speak any English like the guy selling the tour said he would, but it was okay since Kim, Brendan and I all speak Spanish. We saw a sea arch that is no longer an arch due to earthquake damage. We also saw some pretty beaches where a lot of fishing goes on and stopped for a swim. I built a sand castle that was almost immediately destroyed by a wave. Other than that it was a fairly uneventful and unimpressive tour.