Paracas peninsula

Relatively well rested, we wake up at 8 a.m., even if our seats weren't quite as adjustable as advertised. A look out of the window clearly shows. we are again arrived in the desert. Dry biscuits are served for breakfast when we arrive in Pisco at 9.30 a.m. The city center is 8 km further on the coast, which we take a taxi behind us.

The once thriving city were Razed to the ground in 2007 by a devastating three-minute 8.0 earthquake. Only a few colonial buildings survived the quake. We check into the inexpensive 15 CHF Hostel Sol de Pisco.

The helpful owner tells us about the tour offers. Instead of doing the all-day combined tour tomorrow, we want that in the afternoon Paracas National Reserve and tomorrow morning the Ballestas Islands visit.

After a rapid shower, you can take a taxi to the hotel touristic neighboring town Paracas. There we join our day tour today and go to the Wasteland of the peninsula out.

We stop at some viewpoints where we can have a wonderful view of the wild coast. The known Catedral rock arch also fell victim to the earthquake. Since then, the National Reserve has lost its famous landmark. The area is incredibly dry, Life apparently only exists in and by the sea. But really there. We see countless sea birds as Peruvian pelicans, Cormorants, seagulls and vultures.

Next stop is a bay with red sand, of volcanic origin. Opposite is the small one Lagunillas fishing villagewhere we will stop for a meal. Then we climb the nearby hill. I take a few photos of the sea birds before I go back. The tour was a bit unimaginative, but the real reason we came here will be tomorrow morning.

Back in Pisco we explore the desolate center. Ruins and construction sites can still be seen everywhere, around 80 percent of the town was destroyed, robbed of its history and infrastructure and more than two hundred people died. We look for a nice restaurant before we go to bed early.