“Poor man’s Galapagos” is a nickname for the Ballestas Islands in Peru, which are a good alternative to visiting the Galapagos Islands. The islands are smaller than the Galapagos Islands, and are located in the Paracas District of the Pisco Province in the Ica Region of Peru. They are known for their arches and rock formations, thousands of birds, sea lions, and other wildlife. The islands are also home to a variety of mammals, marine species, and birdlife, including: Humboldt penguins, Sea stars, Fur seals, and Sea lions.
The last two photos show the Paracas Candelabra which we passed on the way out to the islands. It is a giant, mysterious marker etched in the earth and lined in large rocks. Similar to the Nazca lines but believed to have been created by a different group of people, due to its size (595 feet long) and visibility, (you can see it 12 miles out at sea) one theory is that it was created centuries ago as a sign for sailers to reference for landfall. Another theory is that it is a depiction of the Mesoamerican Tree of Life.
I took these photos in 2008 on a trip that also included an Amazon River trip, a flight over the Nazca Lines, Villa Salvador and Lima. A wonderful trip.
The Paracas Peninsula is a desert peninsula within the boundaries of the Paracas National Reserve, a marine reserve that extends south along the coast of Peru. The only marine reserve in the country, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is to mark and preserve the archeological sites of the Paracas culture, in addition to the marine habitat. [citation needed]
The peninsula is located within the Paracas District of Pisco Province . This unusual peninsula may be best known for the Paracas Candelabra, a prehistoric geoglyph nearly 600 feet (183 m) tall that was created on the north face of the peninsula ridge. Pottery nearby was dated to 200 BCE, placing it within the Paracas culture.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 