The Paracas National Reserve is a stunning subtropical coastal desert in Peru. This tour takes you to some of the reserve’s best attractions.

The Paracas area is one of Peru’s most biologically productive marine areas. All sorts of animals, from hawksbill sea turtles to American flamingos, depend upon the reserve for food and habitat. While here, you might see birds flying above the sand and other animals scurrying about.

The tour begins with a visit to the reserve’s interpretation center. Here you will learn about the history and culture of the reserve. It acts as a good introduction to the places that you will visit next.

You’ll stop at the turritelas, which are fossilized remains of sea snails that are now embedded into the ground. This whole area was once underwater, and the turritelas are a good reminder of this. The tour also visits The Cathedral. This million-year-old rock formation is set just off the coast but was unfortunately destroyed by an earthquake in 2007. The base of the formation, however, can still be seen.

You’ll explore the beautiful beaches of Playa Lagunilla, Red, and Yumaque. These beaches are very picturesque and are a good place to watch the waves roll in.