|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dolphin Watching
Desert Expeditions in the Paracas National Reserve The Paracas National Reserve offers incredible desert landshapes reflecting the sun light in dozens of colors. Experience the silence and beauty of the desert.
Beach visits When touring the hot desert of the Paracas National reserve you may stop by one of the beautifull beaches of Paracas in order to jump in the water and cool off, refreshing mind and body.
"Tambo Colorado" or "Puka Tampu"
Incan complex, located in the kilometer 33 of the highway Vía de Los Libertadores, (San Clemente - Ayacucho ) in the district of Humay, Pisco. It is one of the biggest and best preserved archaeological complex originating from the Inca Culture along the Peruvian coast. It owes its name to the predominance of the red color in its constructions. The army post was ordered to build by the Inca Pachacútec, in the last quarter of the XV century. Their extraordinary walls, built in adobe, were colored in red and yellow, adorned with trapezoidal niches and niches. This complex is formed by a palace, a temple, walls, barracks and warehouses. The site counts with a small site museum.
Archeology: On-site museum: Paracas Culture
The culture is characterized by their big, underground necropolis where bodies were preserved as mummies wrapped in luxurious cloths and mantles, forming conical bales that were conserved in excellent conditions by the desert climate. During the first fase of the culture the mummies were located in collective tombs, dug in the form of caverns. During the second fase the mummies were buried directly in the earth.
Their textile art is considered as the best of all ancient cultures. They used vicuña wool or cotton; harmonious and with many colors, animal designs, anthropomorphous and geometric, some included feathers. Their ceramic did not reach remarkable development. Paracas ceramics, influenced by the Chavin culture , included simple shapes, with many colors and illustrations as well as drawings that are similar to the Nazca culture. Their economic activity was based on agriculture and fishing. Located very near the town of Paracas (5 km), the small museum Julio C. Tello shows an interesting exhibition about the development of the Paracas culture , textiles, ceramics and reproductions of their daily life. Valuable ceramic pieces, textiles and funeral bales can also be appreciated The museum is named after the Peruvian archaeologist that discovered and carried out the first investigations of the Paracas culture in 1925.
Archeology: Flight over Nazca Lines
Their economic activity was based on agriculture, trade and fishing. In agriculture they achieved a high level of development, being skilled manufacturers of hydraulic works, underground aqueducts, artificial watering systems and reservoirs that are still well preserved and in daily use.
They lived in populated centers, with great sense urban design, being their main cultural center the citadel of Cahuachi , built in adobe (bricks made with clay), ceremonial pyramids. The maximum cultural expressions of this old civilization are the famous Nazca Lines . Located in a desert plain, some 400 km south of Lima, the geoglyphs of Nazca and the Pampas of Jumana cover an area of about 450 square km. These lines, which were drawn between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D., are among the most impenetrable secrets of archaeology because of their quantity, nature and size. Some of the geoglyphs depict living creatures, plants or imaginary figures, as well as geometric figures several kilometres long. They are believed to have had ritual functions connected with astronomy. Some of the geoglyphs are so huge that they can only be seen from an airplane. The figures of the spider, the monkey, the dog, the small lizard, the hummingbird, the condor, and the astronaut, among others, stand out. Diverse scientific theories have been placed on these lines. Some theories even explain its possible construction associated to extraterrestrial beings.
Desert Oasis Huaca China (with sand boarding)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The department of Ica – offers something for everybody
The only way to get to the island is by taking an organised tour. Boats depart between 08:00 and 10:30 from the fishing pier at El Chaco po
rt by the village of Paracas. Regular local tourism companies do often overload the boats. Nature Expeditions offers a more exclusive tour.
The Paracas Culture was a Pre-Inca Culture (600 BC - 200 EC), established on the Paracas peninsula and influencing the area which is nowadays comprises the department of Ica. 
The cultures knowledge of medicine was advanced, as they demonstrated by exercising surgical operations to the skull (craneal trepanations) with the patient surviving. These people used to deform their skulls while still alive, givenig them a 'lengthened head '. 
The Nazca Culture was a Pre-Inca Culture (300 BC - 1,000 EC): their main cultural center was established in the valley of Nazca in the department of Ica; They dominated the valleys of Chincha, Pisco, Ica and Nazca. 
Their ceramic used up to 11 colors, globular ribs of 2 peaks, united by a handle with the shape of a bridge, plates, cups, pots, with animal drawings, geometric shapes, and scenes of daily life. The ceramic in its first stage had inspiration in nature, figures of animals and vegetables. The second stage was based on abstract figures. The third stage was the multiplication of the abstract motives with complicated geometric and mythological figures with a detail. Gold and copper were also used. 
A small lagoon located at 5 Km from Ica and being surrounded by sand dunes. It is a natural oasis with planted palm and huarango trees, and sourounded by beautiful buildings. An ideal place to take a break from your desert trip and have a dring in one of the restaurants. 