Huacachina, Peru

Exclusively tourists and services thereof. The town is built around an oasis (which is green and cloudy). Our hostel is called Casa de arena; built around a pool which is is blue and cloudy. The town has a number of restaurants which are overpriced for the tourists who eat there. Nearby is the town of Ica which is much bigger, about 250,000 people. Ica has some tourism but is not focused solely on it.

We have done touristy things here. Yesterday we went dune buggy-ing and sand-boarding. I was worried when our dune buggy driver showed up fifteen minutes late. He looked tranquil but bored and a little annoyed. I was worried when we didn't get moving until half hour after our appointed time. As it turns out our driver races in the Dakar race which is held every year starting in January through the deserts of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. It is a gruelling race covering a huge distance. It turned into an exciting adventure. Our driver did things none of the other drivers were doing. He took us up, over, and down some huge dunes, whizzed around corners, and even through a canyon. Anytime we stopped close to other buggies he would impress us by skidding in dangerously close to other buggies/people, dangerously close. Our driver knew how to handle a buggy and it was amazing. We also sand-boarded.

Today we went to the paracas reserve where we saw a number of birds and marine life. We also saw the candelabra which is an imprint in the desert sands made by unknown people at an unknown time. It was first recorded in 1902 but is speculated to by thousands of years old most likely used as a port marker. I saw a number of fishing vessels as well. They were purse seiners and they catch anchovies. Peru's economy is heavily dependant on fishing and I am very excited to see more.

Tomorrow we are leaving Huacachina at 8pm and heading for Arequipa. A twelve hour bus ride that will bring us to the base of the Andes. We will be especially looking forward to the Colca Canyon which is one of the deepest canyons in the world.

Erik