Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage, Puerto General San Martin, Peru... Part 1 of 2

I was out on deck this morning for sail in but the fog in the distance negated my getting a good focus for Paracas but it was fine close to the ship. With no set plans for the day, we took the first port shuttle to Paracas. You can catch the immense beauty of the area just driving through the Paracas National Reserve desert from the port to the town of Paracas…God’s art gallery! Being Ann and Cathy’s first time in Paracus, we decided to do the Ballesta Islands boat trip. Just after we left the dock there was a school of dolphins feeding in the harbor. This boat trip offered me the advantage of getting some photos of the ship from the water. Our first stop was the Candelabro de Paracas carved into the side of the hill. Although the exact age of the Candelabra geoglyph is unknown, archaeologists have found pottery around the site dating to around 200 BCE. This pottery likely belonged to the Paracus people and it is not known whether they constructed the geoglyph. Our guide told us myth has it that Pirates in the 17th century etched the candelabra for orientation and direction purposes or alternatively, General San Martin was a Mason and maybe it was a Masonic symbol. After a 17-minute ride we reached the Ballesta Islands…known as the Peruvian version of the Galapagos. The Ballestas Islands are the leading attraction that draw the majority of visitors to Paracas. Ideal conditions created by the Humboldt Current enable the animal inhabitants of the Ballestas and the nearby Paracas Peninsula to thrive. There did not appear to be the same abundance of birds as in the past which could be due in part to the warm water temperatures this year. Environmental laws prevent visitors from landing on the islands, so boat tours cruise their perimeters, arches, and caves for up-close wildlife observation. Shore access in the Ballestas Islands is reserved mainly for scientists, researchers and Guano Mining. Forever, seabirds have deposited their guano on the Ballestas Islands and other isles of Peru. Since the time of the Incas, this guano has been used as a fertilizer. Every 8 years the guano is collected for use in the production of fertilizer. The islands have beautiful rock formations and home to many species of birds and sea lions. Right away we spotted a small colony of Humboldt penguins, Inca terns and Peruvian boobies. Circling the islands, we were able to get close to the sea lions. After an hour and half, we returned to town…the spur of the moment decision to take the boat cruise turned out to be a great expedition for a very reasonable cost. Back in Paracus, we strolled the Malacon, stopped for coffee and shopping. We got the shuttle back to the ship taking in the miles of stunning coastline and desert. Our unplanned day turned out to perfect relaxing adventure. Tonight, we are in the Pinnacle Grill for a Tamarind Pop-Up dinner.