Paracas Services

By Lorraine Caputo

In Paracas there is no municipal tourism office. Private tour operators are willing to dispense information, as well as eager to sell tours. Inrena, the institute responsible for the management of the national reserve, has offices at the entry to the park, about three kilometers (1.8 miles) south of the village.

There are no formal money facilities in Paracas. The nearest banks and ATMs are in Pisco. Some tour operators may change US dollars.

The only internet provider is an unnamed place on Plazuela Quiñónez with a large sign on the roof that says “Internet Llamadas Internacionales.” It has Skype and charges $0.70 per hour (daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m., but may close early if electricity to the village is low). A community phone center with coin-operated phones is down from the church next to the supermarket (daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.). Several independent locutorios on the street parallel to the highway and beach also have call services. Serpost has no post office here.

The Centro de Salud is next to the church, left from the Plaza Bolognesi roundabout. On the corner of Plazuela Quiñónez is Botica Divino Niño Jesús (24-hour service, Tel: 77-2003).

Galería de Arte Carmen Porras has original artwork, ceramics, handmade journals and other fine crafts (irregular hours. Avenida Paracas, Manzana D, Lote 4, next to Hostal Los Frayles). Along Paracas’ main beach, Playa Chaco, are a multitude of stands selling everything including t-shirts and other souvenirs, geared for the Islas Ballestas tourists. Most close by mid-afternoon.At the far right end of the row of restaurants is an artisan shop where Sansón and his family from Iquitos forge sterling silver jewelry, woodcarvings, sand paintings and other creations. They also sell postcards, regionally produced liquors and other items (daily 7 a.m.-9 p.m., E-mail: samvideo9@hotmail.com).