The Paracas Reserve is a barren but beautiful desert landscape located on the coast with beautiful and extraordinary beaches. One of the most beautiful beaches is Playa Roja (the red beach) where the sand has an almost red color and is formed by the detriment of a nearby rock formation of pink granite with a core of lava. Over the centuries, the grit has washed up here and has formed this unique beach. It is a desolate landscape where little grows but due to the contrast with the blue sea and the many birds on the coast, it is an absolute must to walk around here and enjoy the landscape and the many birds. An ideal place to unwind and enjoy the sun, wind and the vast surroundings.

The nearby  Ballestas Islands is a group of islands where one can see the largest concentration of seabirds in the world. It's a deafening spectacle. In addition, one can see seals, sea lions, the Humboldt Penguin and with a bit of luck and depending on the time of year one can sometimes even see dolphins. 

The city of Ica  is the largest city in this region and is located about 60 km inland. Just like Paracas, it is located in a desert climate and here it is warm all year round. The nearby Huacachina Oasis is a nice location to spend the night before continuing to Nasca or Arequipa. In the dunes at Ica you can spend the night in the desert but also enter the sand dunes with buggies, sandboarding or do a Pisco Tour where you can taste Peru's national drink.