PARACAS: NATURAL RESERVE
The Natural Reserve of Paracas is the only protected area of the Peruvian coastline. This wild sanctuary a few minutes from Pisco is located in northern Ica, and has an extension of 335 thousand hectares of desert and beautiful beaches, housing endangered species such as sea wolves, the funny Humbolt penguins, the guano island birds and the flamingo or parihuana. This bird is the symbol of the peninsula because the colors of its feathers inspired the national flag. Despite its animal wealth, Paracas has other wonders such as The Cathedral. This rocky slope has the shape of a religious temple created by the strength of the tidewaters. Near here to the north of the bay, on the sand of the desert across the sea is the famous image of the Candelabrum, a mysterious figure similar to the Nasca lines. For its location and size (393.70 feet in height), it is thought to be an emblem of orientation for the sailors of those times. Among the borders of the reserve is the site museum Julio C. Tello. This museum has one of the most important remains of knitted fabrics from the Paracas culture (600 BC) as well as well known multicolored handmade blankets weaved with camelidae fiber and dyed with vivid natural colors. If you want to have a close contact with the animal life of the area, we recommend visiting The Ballestas Islands. These are located a few minutes from the coast. Do not forget to visit the Tambo Colorado fortress, a magnificent military center built of adobe and the Paracas Reserve, an exciting adventure that you should not miss.
THE NASCA LINES: AN ASTOUNDING MYSTERY
The Nasca lines are one of the most mysterious places in the world. These strange and wonderful figures were discovered in 1927 near Nasca, one of the driest regions of the world on the south plains of the region of Ica. The size and complexity of these geoglyphs, suggest some kind of mysterious origin. However, archeologists state that these drawings were made by the pre-Inca cultures of Nasca and Paracas, who used the 350 Km2 plains as a big drawing board. The designs can be seen from the lookout or from the air, flying on a light plane. The latter is the best option to see the designs, such as the
humming bird, the spider, and the monkey. Maria Reiche, a German
researcher who spent all her life studying these figures, said that these lines, 15 to 20 cm deep, were an enormous astronomical calendar used to track down the different solar phases. She also said the chalk from the desert plains is a magical and natural preserver of these images. It is absolutely very difficult to decipher the mystery but it is definitely impossible not to be enchanted by it.
ICA: THE LAND OF PISCO
Ica is an oasis in the middle of the desert plains in the south of Peru. In its vineyards are made the best selection of wines and piscos. Their quality is well known around the world. Ica has sand dunes, black and Creole music, witches, and delicious sweets known as tejas (stuffed candy) or frijol colado (pudding made from cooked beans).