Before setting off for the next part of our journey we had a tour of the Paracas National Reserve which covers an area of 3,350 km². It spans desert, ocean and islands. We stopped at various view points to see rock formations, different coloured sand and landscapes.
Our Peru Hop bus journey then took us further south to the oasis village of Huacachina. The water and mud there are supposedly therapeutic helping with symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism, asthma and bronchitis. Legend holds that the lagoon was created by a beautiful native princess who fled when a male hunter approached whilst she was bathing, she dropped her mirror which became the lagoon and her mantle, streaming behind her became the sand dunes.
After checking in to our hotel we went on a sand buggy tour. This was great fun and like being on a roller coaster ride as we went up and down the dunes, some being quite steep. At various points we stopped for people to have a go at sand boarding down the slopes. Each time the slopes got higher and steeper. We didn’t do it but gave encouragement to those who did. The tour ended at the top of one of the dunes watching the sun set.
Tonight we went to one of the hotels for a BBQ with the rest of our group and enjoyed talking to them and sharing experiences. We also enjoyed watching the younger ones partying. Quite a few of them moved on to the Wild Rover to continue the party and we came back to our hotel.