Natural wonder of Peru: Ballestas Islands

Islas Ballestas is a small group of 3 islands sometimes referred to as the Peruvian Galapagos – OK that’s a tough call, but they are very interesting and teeming with wildlife.

Islas Ballestas

Both the port of Paracas and the neighbouring city of Pisco were devastated by an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude in 2007 and many hundreds of people were killed.  They are still rebuilding and Paracas is one of those places where mass market tourism is not evident: it’s either 5 star or backpackers.

Sightseeing boats

As a tourist we cannot actually land on the islands – you just sail around them in a specially designed boat and can get very close.  Every 3-5 years the guano from (mainly) the cormorants is harvested under strict supervision; there are also two resident caretakers.

All the animals and birds live in harmony as there is plentiful fish food for all – the only issues arise when  the males of a species attack another for mating purposes – most of the bull sea lions have two wives – h’mm I think you can do the maths.  There endangered Humboldt penguins, Peruvian Terns, cormorants, pelicans, boobies etc. etc., plus the numerous sea lions with their pups

 ' Maternity Beach' Ballestas Is

Humboldt Penguins

Thousands of birds

On the way to the Islas you pass El Candelabro a geoglyph of unknown origin.  As the area is so dry, there is no organic matter to date them.  Pottery found around the site has been dated to 200 BC but in reality no-one really knows.  They are 130 metres high.

El candelabro

Unlike the nearby Nazca lines there are not recognisable symbols of a certain culture and they have been attributed to everyone from the Freemasons, pirates, a reference to an hallucinogenic drug and a memorial to an old pre Inca god.  They are dug about a metre deep and were first noted by the Spanish explorers.

The islands are noisy and in part smelly – but it all adds to the character and natural beauty.   

Natural arches Ballestas Is