Las Islas Ballestas

Student Hilary S. reflected on our last full day in Peru:

Starting off the day sunless and early at 6:15, we enjoyed scrambled eggs with ham as we prepared for the upcoming excursion: Paracas. Historically, Paracas is a significant site for Peruvians because on September 8, 1820, Jose San Martin, the liberator of Peru, freed the people from the Spanish and began the rest of his campaign from here. Roughly an hour away from our lovely hotel in Ica, Paracas is home to the Islas Ballestas.

Fishermen at Las Islas Ballestas

The Islas Ballestas are a series of protected islands where the native species of fauna flourish and interact. These rock islands are the equivalent of the Galapagos islands. In this area of Peru, fishing is second most important business, so while the islands are protected, boats and fishermen come from all around to try their luck diving for shrimp and other sea creatures.

All aboard the "Pinguino 1"



On our way to the islands!

During the thirty minute boat ride to the islands, we came across a figure on the side of one of the mountains. It stands 177 meters tall and 60 centimeters deep, making it one beautiful site which is believed to have been created by the indigenous people over 2000 years ago! A country rich in legends, the origin of the candelabra remains a mystery. Could it have been aliens or maybe a gift from the native people to their gods? The world may never know, but we do know that this sign is older than the Nazca lines and uses a different technique as it is in a volcanic rock, reinforcing the evidence of Peru's unique and vast history.

The mysterious Candalabra

Just when we thought we might freeze from the chilling wind, we arrived at the three Islas Ballestas. The islands are rock formations jutting up from the ocean but they have arches and caves that would resemble everything from a human face to an entire elephant! As the swells went down and more of the rock was exposed, you could see a line of black which our guide said were muscles attached the rock. The islands, which were all natural with the exception of a wall built 100 years ago, were breathtaking with their blacks, greens, and reds.

Penguins!

As we approached the islands closer, we were immediately greeted with penguins, which Ms. Chinuntdet describes as "so awkward looking" as they tried to waddle on the rocks. Flying overhead were thousands and thousands of birds; the Peruvian pelican, guanay cormorant, Peruvian booby, seagulls, ica tern, and even the red-legged cormorant, which was my favorite with its bright red lips, yellow beak, and black and white feathers. Even more birds could be found resting on the islands, turning what would normally look like brown and red rock into a black land. An interesting tid bit of information we learned about the birds and their guano (poop) is that every seven years professionals climb onto the rock and sweep all of the guano into bags which are then used for fertilizer and other such things. Nearly all of the birds that we saw were non-migratory birds, meaning they indulge on the local small fish year round. Luckily, we came at a time when the pelicans were preparing for the mating season so their necks were a crisp white and their heads a brilliant yellow.  These threatened or vulnerable species were a treasure to see.

One of the many feathered friends that we encountered

Happy Sea Lions

For me, the main event was seeing the sea lions, which, as our guide pointed out, are similar to seals but are much more active. Within the sea lion species, a female tends to have a slenderer head and a lighter coat. The young males, around five years old, start to break off into herds, and in one cave we saw them roaring and fighting. Most of the time, though, they were just sunbathing and smiling for the camera. These creatures give birth in the summer months, January-March, and, since there are no sharks or killer whales around, they can live in peace and enjoy their daily activities of eating in the morning, sleeping all day, and then eating again at night.

Today was one of my favorite parts of the trip! It was full of excitement, beautiful views, savory foods, and a lively atmosphere!