Ballestas Islands, Biodiversity and lavish in touch with nature

The Ballestas Islands are islands that are located in the Pacific Ocean, are composed of rock formations where it is an important marine fauna like guanay guano birds, booby and mostly tendril.

It is located 260 km south of Lima, near the town of Paracas in Pisco province, where one can appreciate Peruvian penguins are in danger of extinction, is also the haven of two varieties of sea lions (lobos droll fine and wolves) and other mammals.

These sea lions are close to tourist boats and jump around, and this is a show in itself fully justifies the visit. It is also of particular interest when you are near these islands, hearing the cries of flocks of sea lions. It gives the impression of being surrounded by these animals practically 360 degrees. The show is extraordinary and unmatched beauty, these sea lions are harmless.

When we think of penguins quickly associate with the cold of Antarctica, the Humboldt penguin is the only species of penguin in Peru and lives in the desert coasts of Peru and Chile, he spends most of his life at sea, in Peruvian Humboldt current.

The abundant life that exists in the Paracas Bay and the islands is possible due to the cold Humboldt current, which fills the Ballestas Islands waters on plankton and microorganisms, further enriching the sea, shoals of fish like sole, palm ruff , croakers, toyos and anchovies.

This area is protected by the private institution that conducts research and ANCOREMA environmental education programs to promote actions for the population of coastal and marine environment in Peru. It is not allowed to land tourists on these islands, so as not to disturb the animals living there, but the boats are close enough so they can enjoy the beauty of these animals in their natural environment. The visit to the Ballestas Islands tour ecotourism is the best known of the Peruvian coast.

Numerous domestic and foreign visitors arriving in the province of Pisco, Ica looking to enjoy the natural wonders of this place located on the Peruvian coast south of Lima.

Hundreds of them embark on the beach in El Chaco to the surprising beauty that offer fascinating Ballestas Islands and on the road towards them is possible to have a close encounter with the inhabitants of the Paracas Bay that have not been given the importance they deserve, dolphins do not need to stray too far from shore to see them. Sometimes, the journey started from El Chaco the sliders can be seen, especially a species of dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, known as dolphins. Dolphins and their closest relatives, the whales, form a group of marine mammals known as cetaceans, whose most notable feature is its adaptation to a life totally dependent on water, where they are born, grow, reproduce and die. In the Peruvian sea known 30 species of dolphins and whales, of which at least 19 shows in the sea off Pisco.

People who have encounters with dolphins or dolphins do not imagine that the life of these animals is not easy. His capture both accidental direct their meat consumption (which is sold as “sea pig” or “muchame”), reducing their food by fishing, marine pollution, the use of their meat as bait in fishing sharks and dynamite fishing are among the threats facing dolphins and coastal Pisco that may eventually make them disappear from the Mediterranean.

Although most of these species live quite far from the coast, the dolphins prefer areas near the shore, allowing us to enjoy his company more frequently. The two groups of dolphins identified in Pisco are an added value as a tourist attraction in Pisco, visitors to the Ballestas Islands enjoy the presence of dolphins in the Bay of Paracas and when they visit the Cathedral have the opportunity to watch the Dolphins Supay just yards from the cliffs.

Each year, thousands of people travel the world to watch dolphins and whales in their natural environment. The industry of dolphin and whale watching has become a million-dollar company that moves more than $ 800 million annually, generated by the sale of airline tickets, lodging and related services.

With this background and the satisfaction it offers the tourist a meeting with these marine mammals is necessary to raise awareness about the need to maintain conditions for the dolphins are an important part of the unforgettable experience of those visiting the coast of Pisco and Ballestas Islands, prodigal in biodiversity, in search of contact with nature.