Private Tour of Paracas National Reserve
Your journey begins on the Turritelas paleontological trail, where fossil remains of a mollusk that inhabited the Peruvian coast more than 45 million years ago offer a remarkable window into a world long before our own. From there, you'll enter the Paracas National Reserve, a protected coastal marine ecosystem of extraordinary and threatened biological diversity. Within the reserve, you'll encounter the remains of "The Cathedral"; an impressive rock formation shaped over 35 million years by the relentless forces of wind and sea. Declared a World Heritage Site, this iconic natural arch collapsed during the 2007 earthquake, yet even in its partial form, its history and scale are impressive. The route continues to Yumaque Beach, a graceful crescent of shoreline whose name in Quechua translates as "place where it is removed by hand", a reference to the traditional harvesting of small mollusks along its shores. Your day draws to a close at the Istmo viewpoint on the Paracas Peninsula, where a sweeping panorama across the Paracas bays and Lagunilla beach brings together the best of desert and sea in one unforgettable final scene. Following your exploration, you'll be returned to your accommodations in Paracas.
Semi-Private Nazca Lines Flight
Stretching across the Nazca Desert, the story behind these ancient geoglyphs continues to baffle researchers and intrigue travellers today. Created by the simple rearranging of desert rocks, the lines form a wide variety of geometric patterns and animal shapes up to 200 metres wide. Was their function agricultural? Spiritual? Astronomical? Or could they be markers left by ancient aliens? Develop your own theories as you take to the skies over this amazing plateau. A flight over the desert gives you the perfect view of the monkey, the spider, the hummingbird and others, marvelling at the perfect shapes and intricate designs. Once back on the ground, you will be returned to your hotel in Paracas.