
Islas Ballestas, an island group off the coast of Paracas, are often referred to as Peru’s Galapagos. They are a group of uninhabited islands that are part of the wildlife rich, Paracas National Reserve. This is a colony of Guanay Cormorants native to Peru and Chile.

You cannot visit the islands without passing the giant Candelabra carved into the rock face and carbon dated to 200 BCE.

The islands shelter an incredible variety of fauna. There are literally millions of birds and their feathers float and fill the air like lazy drifting snowflakes.

There are fur seals, Humboldt penguins, Inca terns, blue footed boobies, and so many more amazing wild creatures here. I will show you them in my next few posts.

But for now, let’s just look at these unusual islands.

They are volcanic, and riddled with arches and ancient sea caves. The layers in the caves show the process of geologic time.

You can go in the caves, if you dare, and if you do, look at what you will see!

Cheers to you from Peru’s incredible islands~
Incredible Cindy, stepping back in time… amazing thank you.. ♥
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I love seeing geologic time in rock strata. Someday that will be what is left of us. Lines in rock. I wonder what our lines will look like? Something with radioactive and plastic traces in it I suppose.
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Plastic I am sure Cindy. I felt the same seeing cave paintings… hugsxxx
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Sad.
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Wow so beautiful!
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Thank you. It is a unique and beautiful part of the world.
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You made my day my sister, truly beautiful photos! I have been ill! Inspired by what you always share! Hugs and blessings!
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Oh no! I am so sorry. How are you now? Sending you prayers and hope for a full recovery ❤ ❤
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Those geologic strata really are quite remarkable. The darker layer looks like basalt. Any idea what the others are?
I suspect there are bird pictures coming…
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I do not know what the rock layers are and I would like to know. I do they are volcanic and you can see the strata in the exterior rocks, but the exterior formations are muted by the effects of erosion and sun exposure, these cave interiors are polished by the sea and kept in the dark. We need a geologist to way in here. You are right, the BIRDS are coming!!! Take cover!
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Wow, the colors of the rocks in the caves are amazing! And that candelabra! Do you happen to know who made it?
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Basically The Candelabra remains ‘a mystery wrapped in an enigma.’ It is a geoglyph, thought to have been made by the by the Paracas people who lived in this region from 800-100 BCE, because pottery from around The Candelabra carbon dated to around the same time the Paracas Culture was present in this area ie., 200 BCE, although it is possible the geoglyph is much older. The figure is cut into the earth about two feet deep, and the earth petrified over time saving the geoglyph. It is huge, 181 meters tall and can be seen up to twelve miles out to sea. It oddly geometric, basically a series of triangles and straight lines, until the top section, where the lines curve in patterned waves. Some surmise it is a depiction of Jimson Weed which was a hallucinogen plant used at the time for religious purposes, others guess it might be a depiction of the lightning rod of the god Viracocha, still others think it was a navigational symbol. I do have more photos which I can post as people do seem interested.
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Thanks for the information, Cindy! That’s very intriguing – what a mystery!
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You are most welcome Josh.
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Wow! Thank you for the photos!
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Awww, thank you for liking them ❤
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wow, Cindy, these are amazing. I’m so curious to see the candelabra and wonder what it really meant. And the colours, and wildlife. oh wow. xxx
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So pleased you enjoyed Adele & here is a link to The Candelabra: https://www.amusingplanet.com/2017/07/paracas-candelabra-of-peru.html
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Thank you, Cindy. xxx
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Oh wow, these are absolutely spectacular Cindy! The rock caves look rainbow colored or is that reflection. 🙂
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It’s volcanic rock, in a dark cave, polished by sea water, like the granite slabs in my kitchen. The layers were amazing though!
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OMGGGGG absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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You are such a thoughtful friend. Thank you & cheers too ❤
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Cheers my friend ❤
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I have seen some colorful rocks directly and many more by admiring photos of places like Sedona or the Grand Canyon. The sea caves here surpass anything I have seen or could have imagined before seeing this post.
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So pleased you enjoyed them and thank you for letting me know! Cheers to you
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herzliche Grüße aus dem schönen Norden an der Müritz
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Viele Grüße aus dem sonnigen Südkalifornien! ❤
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danke, sehr nett
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❤
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Your photos are sooo cool! Visiting your website means never to be disappointed. 🙂
Thank you for showing us the world from it’s most beautiful side! ❤
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Your kind comment touches my heart. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. It is very much appreciated ❤
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Wow! Your photography never ceases to amaze me!
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Ahhhh, so kind of you & so appreciated too! Thank you Chandra ❤
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🙂
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You do have amazing excursions to fantastic places ! Hi ya Cindy 😀 I thought I’d do some surfing here today, who knew I’d arrive in Peru ? The first photo is really mind blowing ! Sooooo many birds. We enjoyed Cormorants at the lake I used to live at. They followed around the Pelicans because they found the good fishing I suppose. Did you get a good whiff of bird droppings when you floated by? Well worth it to see unspoilt nature. I do love the idea of an uninhabited island reserved for nature…wish we were that smart up here. xK
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They actually harvest the guano from on these islands and sell it for fertilizer at a hefty profit as there is so much of it. (My husband has been waiting for me to talk about this, which I have been avoiding.) I love it that I get to talk about it with you!!! 😉 I think guano harvesting would be a truly difficult job, although I know someone who has made a fortune picking up and selling agricultural chicken poo in the USA. One creatures poo, is another creature’s profit, and all gets recycled. Aren’t you glad you mentioned the birdie doo!!!! ❤ 😉
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Absolutely mind-blowing, Cindy. Loved all of your images and wish I was there too. 🙂
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So happy you enjoyed & Happy Weekend my friend ❤
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Cindy, thank you for these beautiful and stunning photographs!
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Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are more beautiful and stunning photographs from Cindy Knoke!
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Gratitude & appreciation for your thoughtfulness Charles. Cheers to you!
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Beautiful and interesting photos as always 🙂
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Thank you John.
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Thank you very much for showing another piece of paradies, Cindy! Its really a second Galapagos. Have a nice Sunday! Michael
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Happy Sunday Michael & thank you for kind appreciation ❤
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Always a great pleasure to me, Cindy! Your images are always so wonderful, and giving a very positive impact. Thank you so much, and have a nice week ahead. Best wishes, Michael
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Those colors in that cave! Wow! Fascinating!
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Mother Nature justs keep on surprising us! ❤
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Wow so beautiful !
greetings
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Greetings & gratitude back to you!
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Gorgeous work, as always, Cindy!
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You are a kind person Robert. Thank you & cheers my friend~
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Brilliant I love the rock structures I’ve never seen anything like those colours, I wonder what makes the pink?
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Cindy, you are guilty of inciting temptation to travel! Thank you.
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Oh good! I look forward to tagging along wherever you go, even if it’s just next door! Where you live, next door is pretty special ❤
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Cindy, I feel the same and there is little that could blast me from my village… ❤
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Smart lady.
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They are incredible indeed, Cindy! The colours inside the cave, materials formed over a long long time, are just fascinating. And that candelabra, wow! Makes me think maybe some aliens got lost or stranded so they made a huge ‘HELP’ sign so the mothership can spot them, haha. Cheers to you my friend.
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That is about what I thought. It does look other-worldy to me too!
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Wow- amazing images! Love how you captured it!
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Ahhh, so pleased you do & thank you!
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Oooh, your seas were calmer and more low tide that the morning we did the boat ride out the island. We did not see through those bridges nor see the range of colors you saw. Nice photos. (we did see thousands of birds though). – Oscar
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When I looked at the candelabra, I thought I saw the face of a wild animal. Love your photos. Thanks for sharing them.
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Thank you Constance. What you saw is fascinating!
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Thank you.
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❤ ❤
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I love it
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Yay! So glad you do & cheers too ❤
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Wow😍
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Exactly what I thought when experiencing them.
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Wow! I like the term Unusual Island. Great Photos as usual. 😊
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You notice things. How great is this!
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Amazing and beautiful!
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They are fascinating and wonderful, thank you & cheers! დ
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