Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South Coast Highlights
Deciphering the mysteries of the Nazca Lines (
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) from an over-
flight or a tour on terra firma
Observing sea lions and birdlife, and dodging guano on a boat trip to the
Islas Ballestas (
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)
Watching the sun set atop a giant sand dune overlooking the desert oasis of
Huacachina (
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)
Watching live Afro-Peruvian music and dance at Casa-Hacienda San José (
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)
in El Carmen
Rafting the angry rapids of Río Cañete in adventure nexus Lunahuaná (
Tasting some of Peru's best wines and piscos at the Bodega Tacama (
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here
) near Ica
Hiking across the deserted Paracas peninsula for a seafood lunch in La-
gunillas (
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)
Pucusana
01 / POP 10,000
Materializing out of the fog and grime that hangs over Lima's southern suburbs, Pucusana
marks the first genuinely worthwhile stop on the coast. Superficially, it's a typical Peruvi-
an fishing village: clamorous, a little grubby and packed with literally hundreds of
wooden boats bobbing around in its protected harbor. But there's an innate soulfulness
here too. If you've just waltzed out of Miraflores thinking you'd arrived in a Latin Amer-
ican version of LA, this will feel more like the real warts-and-all Peru.
The small Pucusana and Las Ninfas beaches are on the town's seafront or you can catch
a boat (S1) to La Isla, an offshore island with a lofty hill and a strand of sand. The most
exclusive beach in the area is Naplo, 1km away and reached through a tunnel. The
Gre-
mio de Pescadores de Puscana
(fishing port) is quite a scene at any time of day with oil-
skinned fishermen battling with huge whale-sized fish while snappy-beaked pelicans in-
