PERU – Paracus
On the Peru Hop Bus
We originally planned to go to Paracus for a couple of weeks, and then bus up to northern Peru – but the weather had other ideas!
Kangaroo Kite have a lovely camp, adjacent to a hostel.
We rented some gear and kited for a few hours – unfortunately this was the only day it was windy enough!
So we changed plans and used the Peru Hop bus to take us to Machu Picchu – stopping at Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, Puna and Cusco. This would mean a slow ascent, thereby reducing altitude sickness.
Our hotel kindly made us a packed breakfast at 6am, which we eat along the way, and included granadilla fruits. The insides looked like brains, but tasted delicious.
The bus made a brief stop for us to view the secret slave tunnels. Our bus host acted as a guide to walk us through these tunnels hidden beneath a vast wine growing estate. Part of Peru’s dark history of slavery.
A few more stops en-route and info about ancient peruvian cultures.
We went on a Golden Shadows tour – into the Paracas National Reserve.
It’s the top part of the Atacama desert, the driest place in the world.
Native of Peruvian deserts – a turkey vulture – identifiable by its red head.
‘Flying tigers’ boat on the shore
Coordinated jump with the sunset. We are 9 and 10 from the right.
Playing with the sunset
The views and scenery were amazing from the top of the steep cliffs over the sea watching the sunset.
That evening we all attended a free pisco sour making class – these were made with pisco and passion fruit juice – nice but not quite as good as with lime juice in my opinion!
The next day we got on a fast boat for a tour of the nearby Ballestos Islands.
Where we saw Humbolt penguins,
a big Pelican,
and quite a few seals. The males are black, females brown.
Including a couple of young pups.
Ballestos means crossbow in spanish, and refers to the shape of this little island group, which has been shaped by the currents over time.
In peru, tuk-tuks are known as motor taxis, and are everywhere. Each area seems to have its own design, and are a cheap way to get around.
Tsunami evacuation signs again, amidst colourful frescos.
We are not a big fan of peruvian coffee, as it tends to be quite bitter, but this cafe sold a milder version which was better.
Food portions in Peru tend to be huge!! So we opted for 2 starters. I had a very nice ceviche, served with a slice of sweet potato, which was perfect. Tbh the best one I had in Peru.
Paul had avocado stuffed with chicken and veg in mayo, which he enjoyed. Served with a glass of Pisco Sour of course!
Our hotel also gave us vouchers for free Pisco Sours…
There were a variety of eateries to choose from in Paracus and we had some good food in the 4 days we were here. This was a massive breaded seafood sharing platter – very nice!
Of course,being by the sea, there were some lovely sunsets too.
The Peru Hop bus always has a host who will look after you, providing 24/7 contact for queries or assistance. The focus is on safety, comfort and convenience.
Its a really comfortable bus for long journeys and there is no chance of getting bored. It provides a stress free way to discover Peru and I would highly recommend using them for travelling in southern Peru.
