GEN. SAN MARTIN / PISCO, PERU - Part 1
02.04.2013 - 02.04.2013
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GRAND SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE 2013
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The 2nd segment of the "World Cruise" had started in Lima. Our port today, General San Martin, was a real eye-opener! I had no idea that the western coast of Peru is one of the driest deserts on earth!
Crystal Serenity cozies up to a scrap iron ship, also registered in Nassau.
We boarded an open-air motor boat that would take us through this bay where General San Martin landed with his troops, eventually marching into Lima and declaring independence from Spain in 1821. This petroglyph, of indeterminate age, is a mystery from the distant past carved into a desert hillside just at the entrance to the bay.
Our destination was a 3 island archipelago, a wildlife refuge. We motored under hundreds of Peruvian Boobies, plummeting into the water as they dove for food.
The Humboldt Current flows north along the coast, bringing cool, nutrient-rich water. These these islands provide nesting places and havens for 150 species of marine birds -
- and Sea Lions.
Humboldt penguins observe the noisy goings-on of the sea lions, the males roaring territorial claims and the pups squealing.
Every rocky beach was covered with sea lions, the males fighting for their bit of sand and the pups and females all jumbled together.
This experience was spectacular - and an absolute highlight of our cruise thus far! Stay tuned for more pictures from this amazing experience!
Posted by Swenigale 02.05.2013 18:41 Archived in Peru
