We didn’t know what to expect, but we really enjoyed the chance to explore the Paracas Preserve. We had a small group - 6 in total - and headed into the desert. We drove for about 45 mins - 1 hour to see salt flats and flamingos, then parked and “hiked” up a sand dune for about 2-2.5 miles total. When I say “hike,” don’t expect a hiking trail. It was most climbing straight up the terrain. It was mostly rocky soil, so just bring shoes with a strong grip. The views were amazing, a beautiful coastline to our right, and just barren desert to the left. Seeing it in the golden light from the sunset was really spectacular.
Our guide was very energetic and wanted to make sure we had a good trip. He took so many photos of us - my phone eventually ran out of space. Beware, the van and the ride out into the reserve may make some nervous - it’s an older van and the roads were *very* rough, but if you lean into the adventure, you’ll be in for a great time.