Most people think of sandy deserts being in North Africa and the Middle East, but Latin America has its fair share, too. In Peru, the Sechura Desert is squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and the Andean Mountains. The sunbleached sandy dunes contain intriguing sites to explore. The Sechura’s Nazca Lines have left scientists and archaeologists perplexed. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was created some 2,000 years ago by the area’s ancient culture, but no one is quite sure how or why. The artwork of a pelican is 285 m long! Inspire your children and stimulate their imaginations. What theories do they come up with? What artworks would they create?
Moving west, relax with a few days on the coast. Hotel Paracas is a luxurious seaside resort well placed for both charter flights over the Nazca Lines and sandcastle building on the beach. You can swim every day in the ocean and the pool, there’s an excellent Explorer’s Club for kids, and equipment is provided for windsurfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and more.