Peru's Paracas Peninsula

On the west coast of Southern PERU in the Ica region, the Paracas Peninsula juts westward into the Pacific Ocean about 130 miles (~210 kilometers) south of Peru's capital, Lima. The scenic peninsula offers spectacular views of the ocean and sand dunes, ridges, and cliffs in a desert landscape. Ridges along the peninsula's west coast rise more than 1,000 feet and 300 meters. Paracas Bay is east of the peninsula's northern part. The entire peninsula and areas south of it are protected by the Paracas National Reserve, which protects a 1,293 sq. mile (3,350 sq. km) area of the ocean and land. Ballestas Islands, Blanca, Chincha Islands, and Sangayán are some islands surrounding the Paracas Peninsula. Finally, Puerto Pejerrey is the peninsula's largest community and is accessible by Peru's Highway 28.