We took the Peru Hop bus to Paracas, where we visited the Ballestas islands inhabited with a multitude of bird life including Penguins and Sea Lions (known as the 'poor mans Galapagos). On the way back from the island we saw the “El Candelarbro” on the sand dune a symbol of unknown origin but perhaps from the wars of colonial independence. Paracas peninsular has a stunning landscape of arid desert and sea cliffs against the ocean.