Paracas National Park

The Paracas National Park is situated at a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean and is a wildlife resort for birds and marine life. Just offshore, at the Ballestas islands, are also penguins and sea-lions, however strange this may seem at this latitude. Apart from fauna, there are some spectacular rock formations, like "el Catedrál". The Paracas peninsula also gave birth to the Paracas culture, known for its pottery, textile and mummies.

El Catedral. Image © Alex Seeley

The Paracas formed a well-developed culture from about 1300 BC until 200 AD, long time before the Inca. In Paracas there is also the Candelabra, a giant figure etched into a hill, similar to the Nazca Lines.

The Candelabra

Nobody knows who made this drawing or what it means, and just like the Nazca Lines there are many (fantastic) theories about it.

Aerial view of the Paracas coastline

Sea-lions at the Islas Ballestas. Image © Marcel Stigter

Inside el Catedral. Image © Alex Seeley

Penguins at Islas Ballestas.
Image © Marcel Stigter