If we haven’t said it already, I’ll say it now, this trip keeps getting better and better the further south we go. We loved Lima, right up there with Medellin and Mexico City as our favorite cities of the trip. Lima, however, has the best food, a beautiful coast and so many cool spots to explore nearby, that it just might be my favorite.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P0naeAqfIzY/VkciekCroFI/AAAAAAAA50g/4UvnlXG7ekU/s144-c-o/IMG_6202.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975719074603090″ caption=” Paraglider flys in over the shores of Lima” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6202.JPG” ]
The fun thing about driving our huge camper van is figuring out where we are going to stay when we go into large cities. Luckily, there always seems to be an option, and we found an awesome hostel that has a parking lot for car camping right in the best part of Lima. We also discovered that the best pisco bar in the city was next door, and nothing tastes better than a proper Pisco Sour.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PXQepqhzmmQ/Vkch5BnOokI/AAAAAAAA51A/1LLZrs9j1ls/s144-c-o/IMG_2230.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074177491522″ caption=”Huaringas Bar was next door to where we camped, and they make the best Pisco Sours on earth!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2230.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lcOqtzmEWJ0/Vkch5PDj1II/AAAAAAAA500/zwJefAXGrAY/s144-c-o/IMG_2247.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975077785982082″ caption=”The camping area in Lima got a little crowded when the big rigs arrived” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2247.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/–QjBOogp7H8/Vkch5CczGKI/AAAAAAAA51A/QoW-WEc-0Kw/s144-c-o/IMG_6209.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074402179234″ caption=”Out on the town in Lima” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6209.JPG” ]
Whenever Jenine and I stop in a city for a week, we try to combo it with spanish classes, so we signed up for 20 more hours of lessons. I also dropped in to two cross fit classes and found out how much muscle strength I’ve lost. I’m about 15 pounds lighter than when I left SF.
The spanish school we lucked into, Peruwayna, was the best we’ve been to so far in our trip and the dinners and pisco sours we had at night lived up to the hype. Many of the best restaurants in South America are in Lima, and we loved it. If the weather was a little better and the traffic a little lesson insufferable, Lima would be a candidate place to call home.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZOK0xoWFFoI/Vkch5CdSbXI/AAAAAAAA51A/MYj_h9RHOH4/s144-c-o/IMG_6207.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074404232562″ caption=”There are a lot of world renowned restaurants in Lima. We splurged at Maido” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6207.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CUtWP_LYKLs/Vkch5FWYUeI/AAAAAAAA51A/T7qcYd2xlds/s144-c-o/IMG_0040.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075180564962″ caption=”Frozen Ceviche at Maido” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0040.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ccKi1YX5bg/Vkch5FkUZSI/AAAAAAAA51A/QbCqr80gb4s/s144-c-o/IMG_0051.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075239028002″ caption=”Bottoms up! Thanks Maido!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0051.jpg” ]
After a fantastic week living the good city life and speaking better Spanish, we pulled out to head south. I wanted to try surfing along the coast and we wanted to check out a national park/reserve in the South with fantastic kiteboarding that we had been hearing so much about called Paracas. The first surf spot we stopped at was Punta Rocas about 1.5 hours south of Lima. This is a big wave spot that hosts the ISA World Surfing games. When we were there, it was huge for me (10ft), and the surfers out in the water were on very long surf boards called “guns” because you need the extra length of board to generate enough speed to get into these waves. I gave it my best shot, but I got crushed, and came in as a powerful wave wipe me out across the rocks…. The next morning, I told Jenine let’s just get down to Paracas and see if the kiteboarding and the national park there would treat me better.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oUuL0KXvftQ/Vkch5LwryaI/AAAAAAAA500/myWkAumrtA4/s144-c-o/IMG_6229.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975076901505442″ caption=”Me defeated at Punta Rocas, Peru” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6229.JPG” ]
Paracas was everything I hoped it would be and more. Paracas is a term in Peru meaning “Sand Storm” and the wind here was pretty legendary. Paracas is a small upscale resort town with a few hotels, an incredible national park, and a fantastic kiteboarding school (Kangaroo Kite). We decided to camp for a few nights in the parking on the beach by the kite school, just outside the national reserve. Jenine was happy to be able to do Yoga at the school in the mornings before the winds came. Overall Kangaroo Kite was amazing to us, definitely want to come back to visit them again.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ejouogeNYZ0/Vkch5JveUmI/AAAAAAAA500/IX6ZnlYIEs0/s144-c-o/IMG_6250.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975076359557730″ caption=”Jenine doing Yoga at Kangaroo Kite in Paracas Peru ” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6250.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cYLtoAYxNI4/Vkch5E8cYHI/AAAAAAAA500/qgWWhkh3A64/s144-c-o/IMG_6243.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075071778930″ caption=”Camping in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_6243.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yRYE6iirLNM/Vkch5KEUiEI/AAAAAAAA500/n9zyrnfM41Y/s144-c-o/IMG_3052.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975076446996546″ caption=”Driving around the dunes in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3052.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q0OhrnfyLsc/Vkch5DGpOqI/AAAAAAAA50o/mxJ_F39hKs4/s144-c-o/IMG_3124.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074577693346″ caption=”Jenine enjoying the view in Paracas Peru” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3124.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2nSvDbSuF2k/Vkch5GWYhaI/AAAAAAAA50o/W6QOcyjv2oo/s144-c-o/IMG_3184.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075449013666″ caption=”Fresh Ceviche in Peru” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3184.jpg” ]
Additionally, we spent a few days inside the actual national reserve of Paracas. The park has incredible sand dunes and cliffs right on the ocean. Our pictures sort of describe the place, but the reality is it was unlike any place I’ve ever seen. We met a lovely family from Bend Oregon here that are traveling for a year with their two sons and all of their kiteboarding gear. They had us over for dinner one night at their rental house and we all kiteboarded together during the day. It was really fun sharing this time with them. It’s crazy when we think about all the people we’ve met on this trip. It may be just for a day or two, but it is really great to share the experience of traveling with others.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LKJ6RqQyoys/Vkch5PLldbI/AAAAAAAA50U/PUGFjcKQqTY/s144-c-o/IMG_3038.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975077819643314″ caption=”Driving around Paracas National Reserve in Peru” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3038.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OWD8R7Nek7I/Vkch5PDYc3I/AAAAAAAA500/n0R5-wKC16E/s144-c-o/IMG_3045.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975077785236338″ caption=”Kite surfing with our new friends in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3045.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aju9opGC1Dw/Vkch5B6CmYI/AAAAAAAA50o/G6PQGpZUFQQ/s144-c-o/IMG_3172.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074256394626″ caption=”Titus looking out over the cliffs in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3172.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0O5yFJApmAE/Vkch5KfpfuI/AAAAAAAA50o/zHoL37ebfSs/s144-c-o/IMG_3087.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975076561616610″ caption=”Kitesurfing in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3087.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VMg9zRaGvqI/Vkch5LQRGmI/AAAAAAAA50o/Egl7RKfvLgg/s144-c-o/GOPR0624.png” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975076765538914″ caption=”Driving on the cliffs in Paracas Peru” type=”video” alt=”GOPR0624.MP4″ ]
On the final day that we were there, a massive “Paracas” or sand storm came through. There was so much sand blowing on the beach that you couldn’t even see the water from shore. Most of the kiters could not go out, but luckily I have a super small kite perfect for these conditions. I was one of the only people kiting in the 30mph+ winds, and I had the time of my life.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P8ntRPwkA24/Vkch5CJOzCI/AAAAAAAA50o/o1ArD6eOHOM/s144-c-o/IMG_3196.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975074320108578″ caption=”Kiting during a sandstorm in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3196.jpg” ]
Paracas, you are on the list of places we want to return to…
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-naW0brJm8uQ/Vkch5HNfcII/AAAAAAAA50o/U_nwqO4fAXk/s144-c-o/IMG_3171.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075680153730″ caption=”Jenine likes Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3171.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zUQVyb6kH-I/Vkch5Hci6XI/AAAAAAAA50o/vyv0gi7p3ZE/s144-c-o/IMG_3142.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog42LimaAndKitingInParacas#6216975075743295858″ caption=”Exploring in Paracas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3142.jpg” ]
More pics of our time on the southern coast of Peru:
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Am I the first the reply this time? First of all, we know of Team Terral, the very friendly Chilean couple with a tiny dog who actually own a very fancy hotel in northern Chile. Look up the Terral hotel. Their prices are crazy. Second, I can’t believe you lost 15 pounds….how does that “just happen?” From the veggie diet? I’m happy to read about all the fun you had. If you are still in Peru, eat up!
Nice.
Hi Jenine and George, WOW beautiful place!!! The food looks so yummy!!!
Hi George and Jenine, Such winds! I remember being in a sandstorm in Las Vegas. I could not see my hand in front of my face. Jim and I felt like someone was rubbing our face on sandpaper. Thank God for the casinos ☺️. We ducked in for a long while. Thanks for the update. We love you!
I forgot to mention about the food…YUMMY!!!!
Hey George and Jenine ,
Peru is amazing. George I was humbled in Punt Rocas too. It was 1995 and I left my comfortable surf existense in Trujillo to test myself. It was August and only my Aussie buddy and I were the only people in Punta Hermosa. Poco Alto was 25 feet. I borrowered my friends 6’9″ gun and paddled out at Rocas. As I entered the water and started scratching for the horizon, the horizon went black. I made it over the first two waves and realized there was a set of about 5. I spun and took the third wave. It was easily triple overhead. I made the bottom turn and slipped off. I was able to land on the board and was turned long ways underwater for 30 yards. I never let go of the board. I put 10 Finger marks on the underside of the board. I made it to land gasping. True power. Open ocean strength at its best. South American version of Hawaii. Scary and beautiful at the same time. The day ended with my first cocaine and a 200 pound Peruvian women trying to claim me as hers. That part is a whole other story. Keep posting. I really enjoy.
Patrick