Paracas National Park The Paracas National Park is situated at a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean and is a wildlife resort for birds and marine life. Just offshore, at the Ballestas islands, live penguins and sea-lions, however strange this may seem at this latitude. Apart from fauna, there are some spectacular rock formations, like El Catedrál. The Paracas peninsula also gave birth to the Paracas culture, known for its pottery, textile and mummies. El Catedral. Image © Alex Seeley The Paracas formed a well-developed culture from about 1300 BC until 200 AD, long time before the Inca. In Paracas there is also the Candelabra, a giant figure etched into a hill, similar to the Nazca Lines. Nobody knows who made this drawing or what it means, and just like the Nazca Lines there are many (fantastic) theories about it. Although it is called the candelabra, the candle, it is more likely to represent a cactus. The Candelabra Aerial view of the Paracas coastline Sea-lions at the Islas Ballestas. Image © Marcel Stigter Inside el Catedral. Image © Alex Seeley Penguins at Islas Ballestas. Image © Marcel Stigter