Adam's Peruvian Adventure: Paracas!

We had our trip to Paracas as part of the program, planned through UPC. It was wayyyy more awesome than I ever thought it would be. We stayed at a fancy resort called 'Las Dunas'. The relaxing there was much needed. The first thing we did was go sand boarding through the resort. It was amazing! We took these giant dune buggys out to the dunes surrounding our hotel, went to a giant hill, and boarded. It's crazy actually being in dunes like that, it looks the desert from the movies. The first couple times we boarded sitting down, but then we got risky and went a couple times standing. Surprisingly, I didn't fall...but Emily had a pretty bad (but hilarious now) fall. We went to the 'Islas Bellestas' the next day, which is the main attraction in Paracas. It was pretty cool! We took a boat tour through a bunch of protected islands. There were a massive amount of birds, sea lions, dolphins, and even penguins! I still don't understand how those penguins didn't burn in the blazing Peruvian sun... My favorite part, however, but going out on our own to Ica (a closeby town) and Huacachina (an oasis!). We went to Ica to eat lunch and definitely ate in the wrong place. I have a friend who did the Peace Corps in Peru for 2 years, so she told me about this awesome pizza and ice cream place by the plaza. We couldn't find it though so we went to this other pizza place just off the plaza...not the best. But after eating there, we found it! A cone of delicious ice-cream for only 2 soles! Then we took a taxi to the oasis. It was beyond beautiful, a charming little town and in the center was the oasis surrounded by palm trees. We met this guy, Marco, who offered to take us sand boarding again for cheap, so we decided why not?! It was cool seeing the difference between this time and the one we did through the hotel. The hills were a lot bigger and steeper this time! Afterwards, we took a vineyard tour through the same company. I didn't really want to go at first but it was awesome. We went to 2 vineyards in Ica and our guide, especially at the 2nd one, was amazing! We tasted a lot of traditional Peruvian drinks like pisco and a bunch of Peruvian wine! The last night, we had a killer sleepover at the resort. Some of the best memories of the trip!