San Martin (Pisco)

Pisco is a town rich in -Columbian history.  The name Pisco may ring a bell as a favored brandy.  This small fishing village, located 145 miles south of Lima, is better known for the treasure trove of archaeological and natural wonders that surround the area.  In 1925 an archaeologist uncovered burial sites of the ancient Paracas culture, which thrived here from 1300 BC to 200 AD.  Some 400 funerary bundles were uncovered revealing mummies wrapped in exquisitely produced funeral garments.  The Paracas Museum is located on the site of one of these grounds.

We hired a taxi to take us to Paracas and to the Paracas Museum.  The town was very picturesque and only about 15 minutes from the ship.  We had a great lunch there.  The small charming restaurants were brightly decorated with colored tablecloths, flowers & statues of sea nymphs, flamingos, plastic ships and various sea shell.  There were vendors selling trinkets, everything from jewelry to alpaca sweaters, along the walkway.  From the town we went to the museum.  Unfortunately, the section that displayed the mumms is only open in June/July, but we walked through and,although it was very small, we enjoyed the short tour.  About this time we could have used an "Inca Kola."