Visited the Chauchilla cemetery where mummies of the Nazca people were buried around 2000 years ago. Important people were beheaded when they died, and the head was mummified and buried. It was thought the head was a 'seed' which would grow into a new person in the afterlife. This is also what they did to an unborn foetus. When they died, the top warriors and holymen of the community were sacrificed in their honour as well as two animals, including a fox. The ...

Now en-route to Nazca via some vineyards. Taking the pan-America highway which stretches for 1000km from Equador to Chile across the Atacama desert- driest on earth. Vineyard was great- had a sample of the local Pisco wine (5shots). Feeling it now... bought a bottle. Sand boarding down the dunes was awesome! Even after falling off the board and getting covered in sandy-sunscreen. Just arrived at the hostel for tonight.

Arrived late last night into a very crowded Lima airport-closely resembling a zoo! Having crossed over parts of the Amazon river and Andes mountains the plane ended on a loop over the Pacific coast before landing, just as the sun was setting over the horizon. Interesting taxi ride to the hotel but good to see the city at night. Now looking forward to the day ahead in Pisco, although I feel I have already made the most of the famous Pisco sours (cocktail) befor...

Took a fast boat out to the Ballestas Islands this morning, stopping to see the candelabra engravings in the mountain side. Arrived at the islands to see thousands of birds, including rare red-footed cormorants. Also saw sea lions and their breeding beach. It felt like we were sailing round some pre-historic islands, with lots of unusual animals- birds were shooting into the water at speed to catch fish and waves were crashing all around us. There was a small ea...