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Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands

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Take a trip to one of Peru's most important marine wildlife reserves, passing the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph etched in the desert sand.

Lying off the coast of Paracas, the Ballestas Islands are a habitat for lively colonies of sea lions, penguins and seabirds including albatrosses, boobies and pelicans. This was once the centre of the lucrative guano trade, but these days it’s more famous for the wildlife-watching boat trips that take you right up into a rocky territory where natural arches and caves provide shelter for thousands of marine animals and birds.

The boat will also pull up beside the Candelabra, a 200m etching in a sandy hillside that is thought to be over 2,000 years old. Reminiscent of the Nazca Lines, this huge geoglyph adds an air of mystery to a region steeped in natural beauty.

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    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

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    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

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    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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