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- Destinations
- South America
- Peru
- Lima
- Pisco
Pisco
Pisco is a small port and fishing village, best known for its
fiery white grape brandy of the same name. It also boasts the
origins of one of the major ancient civilisations in Peru, the
Paracas culture, who left an astounding collection of antiquities
that are displayed in the museums of Lima. The area is primarily
visited as a base to see the wildlife of the nearby Paracas
National Reserve, home to an incredible variety and huge
concentration of marine animals and birds. Locals proudly proclaim
it to be the 'Peruvian Galapagos', and the main focus of a visit to
the reserve is a boat tour of the Ballestas Islands. The islands
are off limits to people but the boat tours afford spectacular
close up views of the wildlife. The rocks are alive with thousands
of migratory and resident sea birds, including pelicans, flamingos,
penguins, cormorants, red boobies and terns. Huge colonies of
barking sea lions line the shores, and turtles, dolphins and
sometimes whales are seen in the surrounding waters. En route to
the islands boats pass the famous
Candelabra, a gigantic trident-shaped drawing etched into
the sandstone cliffs overlooking the bay, and like the drawings at
Nazca, its origins remain a mystery.
Information & Facts
Address
Pisco is 150 miles (95km) south of Lima
Language
Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many
other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist
centres and hotels.
Money
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100
céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all
major international credit cards, including Diners Club and
MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments.
Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travellers cheques may
also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and
travellers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the
easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and
shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment.
Casas de cambio(exchange bureaux) often give better rates
than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist
circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.
Time