Lima to Paracus

 I booked an 11 am bus to Paracus so I wouldn't have to rush to much in the morning and not have to pack up while everyone else in the room was still trying to sleep.

Had my breakfast of fresh blueberries, yogurt, coffee and a pita type bread.

I had plenty of time to pack, now with my backpack, my sting bag and a bag of groceries.

I left the hostel at 9:30 to head to the bus station. I decided to take the local bus, thinking I had plenty of time to catch my 11 am bus. I didn't leave enough time for busy traffic and didn't board the optimal bus.

I am watching my progress on google maps and watching the time. I didn't start to be concerned until about 10:30, then my anxiety started to climb. At 10: 35, the bus driver turns and tells me this is as close as he gets to the bus statio. I collect my things, get off the bus and check google for the walk time to the station. Google says 23 minutes to walk. I start walking, faster than I thought I could, just hoping that I am walking faster than google anticipates me to walk. Luckily, traffice lights turned in my favor, but it was still going to be close.

I got to the bus station and started to enter the gate only to be told to use a different entrance. Still walking as fast as I can. I get to the boarding gate, relieved when the attendant checked my ticket and asked for my passport. He waves my onto the bus, I found my seat and sat down. One minute ater, the door closed and the bus started to pull out.

The drive to Paracas a less than 3 hour. The route followed the coast line for most of the way. I was surprised at how barren the land was. It is actually a coastal desert, the Sechura Desert. Very hilly but barren of vegetation in much of the area.

We arrived in Paracas at a small bus station at the edge of town. I didn't know how far it was to the hostel, so I used a taxi. Only about $2.50 usd. Many of the younger, heartier backpackers that were on the bus, walked into town. My legs had already done their quota today racing to catche the bus in Lima.

The hostel, Paracus Backpackers House in right on the main road through town, and is just as the pictures suggested. It is clean, well maintained, comfy bed, a smallish kitchen, nice showers.

Paracus itself is a typical beach tourist town. This business part of town in only about 4 or 5 blocks long with the main road that the hostel is on and 2 parallel roads before the beach. After being in the big cities, this is a real break, and totally walkable for me.

The whole town is geared for tourist. Restaurants,  small miscellaneous stores selling basic groceries, tourist stores selling hats and souvenier and of course pharmacies. 

There is a substantial number of fishing boats, but suprisingly I haven't seen a store selling seafood. All the restaurants however, feature seafood.

 

I signed up for a 2 hour boat excursion for tomorrow morning, It will go out to view the Isla Ballestas. I have seen it referred to as the poor mans's Galápagos. The island has  good population of sealions, humbolt penguins, flamingos among other animals. We will not dock on the island, just view from the boat.

 

There is a nature reserve next to town that I may visit tomorrow or wait until Saturday.

There are at least 6 or 7 shops that sell tours, rent mopeds an bicycles. I am thinking I will rent a bike to tour the nature reserve.  The bikes are pretty affordable, about $5 usd for all day. The mopeds are about $11 or $12 usd for all day rental.

I missed sunset tonight, but I will make sure to head to the beach tomorrow to take it in.

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