PARACAS

Altitude: sea level (0 m)
Climate: 18–25 °C | Dry, windy, sunny almost all year
Distance from Lima: 260 km (3.5 hours by car)

Paracas is a small town that by itself isn’t spectacular, but it’s the gateway to a brutal marine ecosystem. The Ballestas Islands steal the show: you board a boat early in the morning, the sea is calm, and suddenly you’re surrounded by thousands of birds, sea lions (they smell terrible but are funny), and if you’re lucky, Humboldt penguins.

Before reaching the islands you’ll see the Candelabro, that huge geoglyph on a hillside. No one really knows who made it or why. Some say it was a lighthouse for sailors, others that it’s connected to the Nazca lines. The mystery adds to the charm.

The Paracas National Reserve is next level. You have red-sand beaches from minerals, cliffs where waves crash, and a desert that meets the sea. The wind is strong, always, so bring a jacket even if it’s sunny.

Practical tip: Tours to the islands depart around 8 am. Go with a light stomach because the sea can get rough. Sunscreen is mandatory — the sun burns strong there.