Holiday in Paracas

We have just returned from a four-day break a few hours down the coast in Paracas. This is the area which was affected by the earthquake and so tourism has been slow there, so we thought that it would be good to help the local economy as well as get away to somewhere we could get to easily and cheaply from Lima. The 3-hour bus ride cost us £2 each as we choose to get the local bus that left near from us rather than the £20 tourist bus. We had be warned of opportunitist robberies on the bus so we had all our bags piled around us!
Here are a few photos of our trip...

Us by the dunes at Huacachina

Amazing dunes

Oasis at Huachina Mark and Daniel on the beach at Paracas
Sunset on Paracas beach

On the third day we took at speed boat over to the Ballesta islands, also known as the poor man's Galapagos. The wildlife was amazing - thousands upon thousands of birds, including penguins and hundreds of sea lions.

Mummy, do you know that that hat looks silly?!The black part on the top of the island here is actually all birdsPenguins amongst some of the other birdsPelican with some other birdsA sealion having a snooze.

We also spent some time relaxing by the pool, with Daniel showing off all his swimming skills - he is not at all scared of the water and can now swim between 1 and 2 metres under the water and pick up keys off the bottom of the pool, if you take him down, and then he'll swim back up himself.
All dressed up to go out for tea

Yummy tea at fish restaurant - Daniel ate more than Mummy and Daddy - lots of fried sea food and rice!