Day Thirty-One - Lima Peru

 

After an early arrival in Lima we drove by coach to the Callao Yacht Club.  There we boarded a small boat for a day's tour in search of the coastal wildlife of Peru.  With the temperature in the 70s, we were ready to enjoy the day.

As we exited the harbor we sailed past San Lorenzo Island.  It was once used as a cemetery by Peru's earliest inhabitants.  Today it is a naval training facility for Peru's special forces.  The emblem on the mountain is that of the navy.  On the shoreline below the emblem is the President's summer residence, though he seldom uses it.

Our boat rounded the island and entered the open sea.  The rugged coast line presented post card like scenes.

The jagged rocks are breeding grounds for thousands of seabirds.  This was a colony of pelicans.

Peru has several colonies of humboldt penguins, the second largest is located here.  Notice the white formation streaking the rocks.  It's not geological, but guano from the tens of thousands of birds living here.  In some areas it is several feet thick.

Our final destination for the day was to visit a colony of sea lions.  The same reason there is such a concentration of birds and sea lions here (an abundant food supply of aquatic plants and animals) draws local fishermen to the area.

We finally reached the colony of sea lions.  Wow! There are thousands of the huge animals squeezed onto the narrow shoreline.  The shoreline must extend more than 1/2 mile.

One hundred yards from the shore, our guide passed out wet suits for anyone wanting to swim with the sea lions.  About 1/2 of the passengers donned the gear and jumped into the water.  The curious sea lions would snuggle up close with their visitors.  (Gene and Jan left this adrenalin filled experience to the "younger" crowd.)