Islas Ballestas and Paracas National Park (Day 2)

 The next day was the tour of the Islas(islands) Ballestas and Paracas National Park. Islas Ballestas are known as the Poor Man’s Galapagos Islands. Paracas National Park is a desert where the sand contains a ton of salt. It's a desert that runs up against a bay. It was pretty incredible. The drive to the boat was about an hour from Ica and then a 30 minute boat ride out to the Islands. After, we got back to the dock we drove to the National Park which was about 20 minutes from the dock. Pictures will do it more justice than me writing about it so see those below. 

But first story time about how I paid twice. So, as a solo traveler, people are almost always intrigued and HELLA nice and try to include you with them. Also, tours are generally couples, because people travel with their significant other, so I’m kind of the permanent 3^rd or 5^th wheel. (3^rd and 5^th wheel not really relevant) Anyway, my pickup was a little late and then eventually, I see a van roll up to my hostel and look inside and see the homies from the day before. Driver comes out and is like… “your name isn’t on the list…”  I go, “I paid for it already”… dude is like. “well where’s your receipt” and I go “well I have this wristband…” and he just kind of looks at me and goes I’m sorry…

SO for those that know me, know that when I’m sleepy and I want something I can be slightly irritable and snarky. I really wanted to get on the bus with my new homies and so I snapped at him… “Is it about money!?!?? Because I can just pay again!!!!” He then just goes… “ okay get in, relax… you need a pisco or something.” 5 minutes later the original company calls me asking where I’m at… Apparently I went with the wrong company… oops! Definitely worth it though because it was the same group as the day before and they were some SUPER coo people.  Anyway, below are pictures.

Islas Ballestas 

 

                                                                                    Hieroglyphics 

 

Paracas National Park 

It's a salt desert so the rock was half salt 

                                                                            look one direction

                                                                        look other direction

Ica and Huacachina (Day 1)

It was about a 4 hour bus ride to Ica and the hostel was close to the bus station. The “hostel” I stayed at was a really nice family run hotel. I don’t know the difference between the two because everyone had their own room and bathroom. Anyways, I arrived kind of late and they didn’t have my name on the list of rooms but he saw that I booked it on Airbnb, I was a little nervous he wasn’t going to be able to find a room but after a short while they found a room. The next day though they moved me from my two bed spot to a nicer one bed spot.

Anyways… the trip. I asked at the hostel if they knew a company to do some tours and they hooked me up with a company. I hit them up and they gave me a price tag that I thought was a bit high but I said whatever, it’s tourist stuff right? $100 USD is kind of the going rate for two days worth of activities… WRONG! So after agreeing on a time and all of that stuff, I ended up taking a walk to the town square, there a young man told me that the exact same thing was going to be about 100 soles. For those counting at home, that’s about $30. I felt slightly bad about cancelling but whatever, I appreciate the money.

Aight, so the first day was the Ica City tour. I’ve done quite a few city tours and it was pretty standard. I thought we were going to be walking as most are walking tours but this one was primarily in a packed van. We started at a church, then drove by the plaza of arms, then to sample some nasty pisco (Well the mint one was good) and then to the plaza of witches or something like that. Funny/awkward story, throughout the sampling of pisco, the tour guide had all of the misogynistic sayings that were very umm.. heterocentric if you will. Anyway, I was sitting next to these two young dudes who were very clearly a couple. The tour guide was an older man who kept on referring to them as “companeros” ( more or less friends) and the heterosexual couples as “parejas.” (couples) Every time he said that, the entire group cringed until at one point the couple said something to the effect of “parejos.” (male couple) He spoke to them afterward and I’m fairly certain he apologized to them. Anyways, next we went to a witch park which was very okay.

                                    Where I thought we were going to try Pisco 

                                                            Where we tried Pisco and our guide 

                                                     

                                                    

Lima is a BEAUTIFUL country and the highlight of this day was definitely the desert and Huacachina. We drove to the desert which is about 10-15 minutes from the city center. We rode on a buggy up and down sane dunes which was like a roller coaster. Hella dope! We stopped at one point and did some sand boarding which was again was hella dope.

We then took the buggy to Huacachina. Huacachina is a lake in the middle of the desert. It was REALLY REALLY cool to see, especially at night even if it was a tourist trap! Also, when getting sand out of my shoes, I definitely didn’t notice people behind me and gave them a face full of sand. My bad folks.  

Ancón

 

So this post will be primarily pictures because Ancón is beautiful. I saved the best for last so be sure to read all the way through. I spent most of my time on the “Malecon” aka boardwalk. As I said before, if I could describe Ancón briefly, I’d say it was a city that I’d’ imagine looks like a mini Miami from the 1980s.  My guess is that during the 80s there was a ton of construction but then things didn’t take off like they thought they would and you’re left with a ocean front properties some really nice but most in need of repair. Apparently this is where people in Lima “Summer.” 

The Hotel: It was an old hotel and I was the only guest there. Only a couple of blocks from the water.

The main part of the beachfront/Malecon: It was nice! There was a church, some restaurants, some shops and some food carts. Relatively speaking, things here were expensive, like borderline US prices at the Bodega.

The dogs: There were hella random dogs. I don’t mind dogs, but random dogs, not on leashes just roaming. A mi no me gusta eso. (i don’t like it) Tengo un poco de miedo. (i’m a little bit afraid) The overwhelming majority of these dogs don’t pay you any attention but one day on the walk back there were two that were posted up a couple of doors down from my hotel and barked when I started walking that way. Anyway, I hit up the hotel owner to help me with the dogs and of course by the time I got back there the dogs were gone. Don't have a lot of photos because ya know... you do you and I'll do me

Now the best parts…

Food:

                                                                        Ceviche (incredible) 

                                            Forgot the name but like fried sardines (some small fish)

                                            Crab Causa (mashed potato stuffed with crab) 

Fun Fact: Causa is a Quechua (language of the Incas) word that means sustenance of life

Ocean Front Properties:

what's dope is that a lot of these properties were built directly into the rocks. 

Fishing Boats:

 

Nice Boats:

 

AND… the best part… Amazing Views

That's all for now! On my way to a desert oasis right now. I'll be sure to update