Sunday 17th June

Our journey continued along the Pan American Highway following the dramatic coastline through sandstone mountains and desert. We visited the Ballestros Islands at Paracus on a hairraising speed boat trip. The English made more money from harvesting and exporting guana (bird poo) from these islands than the Spanish made from Inca gold! We camped on a cliff top with nothing to see but sea and desert. Apart from the wind it was a fantastic location for our first 'bush' camp (no facilities).

Monday 18th June

Our next stop was Huacachino where we had a fantastic dune buggy ride which ended with some great sandboarding! Then it was back to the Pan American to Nasca.

Tuesday 19th June

We took a flight over the Nasca Lines this morning in a small 5 seater plane - not for the faint-hearted. Its the only way to see the Lines made by Nasca culture in 900 BC to AD 600. There are various theories as to what they are for - astrological, signs to the gods, but what ever they are for they are a spectacular sight (google Nasca Lines for more info). Later that day we stopped at the Mummy Cemetary at Chauchilla which was a very gruesome experience. The Nasca Desert is one of the driest deserts in the world, hence the mummies are extremely well preserved with waist length dreadlocks, finger nails, skin and clothing.