Ok, I know I was meant to only go to Lima with the Dragoman tour but I was enjoying the company and felt I was going to see a lot more of Peru with the tour rather than travelling on my own. I knew it was the correct decision on day 2 of the tour. From Lima we continued our journey along the desert coast of Peru. We stopped off at an odd little touristy town which was nothing special but a place to get a boat trip across to the Ballestas Islands, otherwise known as ´The Poor Man´s Galapagos´. The speed boat was fast and the waves rough in places but the 45 minute trip to the islands were worth it. Once there the driver slowly navigated around the islands for many photo opportunities of the sea lions, penguins and other bird colonies. We adjusted to the offensive smell of feaces on the rocks which we later found out is harvested every 5 years for use as a fertilizer overseas and generates a good income apparently. I feel sorry for the guys who have to do the harvesting!
After a good seafood lunch on the coast and entertainment from a local musician and the waitress dancing, we drove on to Huacachina for activities in the sand dunes! We all hopped in to a sand buggy which had an 8 cylinder Chevrolet engine (for you car geeks out there) and each taking approximately 8 passengers plus the driver. Our lives were in the hands of our driver for the next few hours as we sped across the dunes for a thrilling sandy heltor sceltor ride in the very noisy and powerful bits of metal with roll cages. With clothing strapped round our heads to keep the sand out of our facial orifices, our cheeks ere pinned to our ears down the hills and our eyes fell on to our laps and hearts to our stomachs as we realised the next descent and the speed in which we were travelling! The desert air was filled with screams which even over powered the sound of the air as we pushed through it and the engine of the sand buggy!
Every now we would stop at the top of a sand dune to lay down on what was effectively a piece of ply wood prewaxed on the smooth side and we would throw ourselves off the top of the dune headfirst for some more adrenalin action. This was great fun to be honest, highly entertaining and there is so much dune that you know you will eventually come to a natural stop. You just have to enjoy the ride and wherever it takes you and keep your arms on the board to avoid serious sand burns!
After all the adrenaline and action we witnessed a beautiful sunset and then had a BBQ and far too many pisco sours in the sand dunes! With music playing, the warm desert air, pisco flowing freely I decided it was time to bust out some moves in the sand. Yes I have now officially woop wooped in the desert now. I have to admit it is quite difficult on the soft going but at least I wasn´t at risk of shin splints again! Eventually I crawled into my sleeping bag which was laid out on the sand and slept for what was left of the night under the stars of the Peruvian dessert.
Great day, great food, great people, great memories x
After a good seafood lunch on the coast and entertainment from a local musician and the waitress dancing, we drove on to Huacachina for activities in the sand dunes! We all hopped in to a sand buggy which had an 8 cylinder Chevrolet engine (for you car geeks out there) and each taking approximately 8 passengers plus the driver. Our lives were in the hands of our driver for the next few hours as we sped across the dunes for a thrilling sandy heltor sceltor ride in the very noisy and powerful bits of metal with roll cages. With clothing strapped round our heads to keep the sand out of our facial orifices, our cheeks ere pinned to our ears down the hills and our eyes fell on to our laps and hearts to our stomachs as we realised the next descent and the speed in which we were travelling! The desert air was filled with screams which even over powered the sound of the air as we pushed through it and the engine of the sand buggy!
Every now we would stop at the top of a sand dune to lay down on what was effectively a piece of ply wood prewaxed on the smooth side and we would throw ourselves off the top of the dune headfirst for some more adrenalin action. This was great fun to be honest, highly entertaining and there is so much dune that you know you will eventually come to a natural stop. You just have to enjoy the ride and wherever it takes you and keep your arms on the board to avoid serious sand burns!
After all the adrenaline and action we witnessed a beautiful sunset and then had a BBQ and far too many pisco sours in the sand dunes! With music playing, the warm desert air, pisco flowing freely I decided it was time to bust out some moves in the sand. Yes I have now officially woop wooped in the desert now. I have to admit it is quite difficult on the soft going but at least I wasn´t at risk of shin splints again! Eventually I crawled into my sleeping bag which was laid out on the sand and slept for what was left of the night under the stars of the Peruvian dessert.
Great day, great food, great people, great memories x
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