The end of our lovely day in the Paracas and Ballestas islands was capped off with lunch by the beach of fresh fried sole and chips/rice meal washed down with the beloved Peruvian fermented corn drink called chicha morada. Just delicious on a hot afternoon!
The red sand beaches of Paracas are a product of wind storms which carry iron oxide from the distance cliffs into the ocean which in turn washes the iron granules onto the seashore. 
It just wouldn't be right leaving Peru without seen a maternity ward. In this case, the maternity beach of the sea lions which was both bustling with activity (several males were duking it out) and sang with the choir of mother sea lions and their cubs.
Mr. Hippo and I did not rest long in Lima after our tour of the Machu Picchu and Cuzco. We set off to see the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve which are located on the South Coast of Peru. This area has been called the Poor Man's Galapagos. It is not difficult to see why either. There are lots of birds which blanket the islands. In fact, the guano from these islands is mined every eight years and sold overseas as a farm fertilizer. Pelicans, comorants, the peruvian boobys and most surprisingly the Humbolt penguins co-exist on these tiny rock dwellings.
