PARACAS PERU – ADVENTURES in THE CALIFORNIA DESERT
Juan Lena and Kyle Browning of The Kangaroo Kite have written a guest post. Paracas is located 250km south of Lima, Peru. It is known for its famous Ballestas Islands and its unique wildlife.
Paracas Peru Adventure
Paracas are also a great place to learn kitesurfing in Peru. This blog isn’t about kiteboarding or wildlife, as there are many other things to do in the desertic Peruvian paradise.
Today, you’ll learn about one of California’s most impressive and underrated activities. Here’s how to spend a day in the California Desert.
The California Desert, located in the Ica Region just outside Paracas Town and covering an area of approximately 450 km2, is an extensive dune that forms part of the coastal desert that characterizes most of Peru’s shoreline landscape.
The California Desert has a dry climate and almost no precipitation throughout the year and is home to the labyrinthic, ever-changing dunes. Why is it ever-changing? Paracas in Ancient Quechua means “sandstorm.”
Due to the thermal effect of the temperature difference between the desert air and the ocean breeze, the wind blows 15 knots on average every day in this area. The wind constantly shapes and alters the dunes. This sounds fascinating. Let’s move on to the fun part.
Paracas Dune Buggying
Imagine sipping your morning coffee in your hotel room and suddenly hearing a roaring sound. The coffee in your cup starts to tingle, and the earth shakes!
It’s not an earthquake. Although that might be possible, the Monster Sand Buggies V8 engine is coming to pick us up. These vast cars can accommodate up to 12 people and are ready for anything.
Get ready to take the journey of a lifetime.
The driver is an experienced driver who knows the California desert like his palm. He will take you on a tour through some haciendas that produce local fruits and vegetables. You can even see tomatoes, onions, and apples in the first section of the trip.
Once you have gotten past all the haciendas, the real fun begins. The driver shifts to 4WD and lets the engine roar.
The first part of your adventure involves climbing vast sand dunes to reach the California Desert. As the dunes climb higher toward the sky, you will feel the same anxiety as riding a rollercoaster. Turn on your Go Pro and hang on to it! Once you have climbed to the top of the dunes, the driver may stop to allow you to enjoy the fantastic desertic dunes and ocean scenery.
Don’t get too romantic. After saying, “Aqui se donde comienza La Aventura,” he will get off the brake and pedal to the gas, making the most significant drop you’ll ever see.
You will feel your chest pump, adrenaline running through your veins, and you will see the tears in your eyes. It’s now time to start the adventure!
Roller coaster rides are what I mean! You’ll experience all the thrills of a rollercoaster ride, including the bank turns along the dune sides, brake runs just before a significant drop, and even helix-like turns from one dune to another!
You will be ready to sandboard when you feel you have had enough adrenaline.
Paracas Sandboarding
Get off the truck and apply sunscreen again. Remember your shoes! It’s time to sandboard.
First, choose your weapon! There are two options: the pro sandboard with boots or the sandboard without foot straps. You can then apply wax to the bottom of your boards, and you’re ready to go!
You should do your first drop while sitting down on the board. This will allow you to feel the speed and get used to the terrain. You will likely wipe out on your first drop and be covered in sand, much like a chicken Milanese.
Don’t be discouraged! You will feel fresh for the ride to town after the last surprise. Let’s move on to the fun.
After you have sat down for that first drop, you can start climbing up the dune.
Sandboarding in Peru: What is it like
Recommendation: Start by placing a lot of weight on your back foot. Keep your center of gravity (hips) very close to the board. This will stop you from accelerating forward. You can also try braking if you feel you are getting too fast.
You’ll feel more confident after the first few drops and can try some turns and jumps. You will have a great time watching your team perform some fantastic wipeouts.
As I said, you’ll likely be covered in sand by the end. But don’t worry! The next part of your sandboarding adventure is the perfect combination of relaxing and cleaning up.
It’s time to go to the Oasis. You read that right; the Oasis is located in the desert. You are now ready to go again; hop back in the Buggy.
The Oasis of Paracas
After just a few minutes of riding, you will notice green patches in the desert. Then, suddenly, after a considerable dune drop, you’ll be able to see the magic Oasis.
A Hacienda is located at the entrance to the Oasis. You will see a large lagoon of freshwater amongst the dunes a few meters later.
Now is the time to relax, clean up and prepare for the next part of your adventure. You can dip in the water to cool off the desert heat. You can rent a kayak or a SUP to explore the lagoon with your friends.
You might smell barbecue’s delicious aroma when you return from your ride.
You read that right again. The driver will cook a BBQ for you when you think it couldn’t get better. You must grab a cold beverage from the cooler and relax under the sun. You might also see some unique species of birds if you are attentive!
You’re done. It was a fantastic roller coaster ride. Now you are exploring the California Desert. All the while, your adrenaline pumps through your veins.
After trying sandboarding, you have experienced some unpleasant wipeouts and can now draw nice lines on the sandy canvas. Finally, you have cooled off at an Oasis Lagoon. All this in one morning! It’s time to go back or continue the adventure.
What does kitesurfing sound like in the afternoon? For the best Paracas kite lessons, contact Kangaroo Kite Peru if you have any energy left.