4X4 Fishing and camping trip at the Ocucaje desert south of Lima
By Annelies Hamerlink & Pablo Moreno.
Photography by Annelies Hamerlink & Betty Carreño
En el Perú los fines de semana se esperan como algo muy valioso. Pero, hay fines de semana que son súper especiales y se esperan todo el año con ansias. El fin de Semana Santa, que es desde el Jueves hasta el Domingo se puede aprovechar de la mejor luz para los campamentos debido a que siempre hay luna llena; el mar tiene óptimas condiciones de pesca y todos los amigos también quieren reunirse alrededor de una buena pesca, cebiche o fogata.
In Peru people wait for the weekends as something very valuable. But, there are weekends that are super special and we long for them all year. During the long weekend of the Holy Week around Easter, (from Thursday to Sunday) people squeeze the last bit of sunshine and beach out of the summer and take advantage of the day and night light for camping due to the fact that there is always full moon at that time; Which means that the sea has excellent conditions for good fishing and that your friends have holidays too and will be there around the campfire.
Al sur de Lima, a 4 horas se encuentra un pueblo pequeño de no mas de 4 000 habitantes de nombre Ocucaje. Conocido por las uvas, buen vino y buen clima. Pero además, y para empezar por la impresionante ruta hacia las playas más lindas de la costa peruana, cruzando el desierto por casi dos horas. En esta ruta se puede apreciar una infinidad de restos paleontológicos; pirámides; estructuras rocosas; y los “correvientos”, que son zonas por donde el viento que corre es capaz de levantar a una persona si es que no está asegurada al piso. In the further South of Lima, at 4 hours approximately there is a small village of no more than 4 000 inhabitants, named Ocucaje. Known for its grapes, good wine and good weather. But also, and to begin with, its colourful desert and the impressive route towards some of the most hidden and deserted beaches of the Peruvian coast. From Ocucaje we drove across de desert for almost 2 hours. On this route we saw a multitude of paleontological remains; pyramids; Rocky structures; pink sandy hills and we came by a point we named ‘windy rock’ where there were «correvientos», because the winds there were so strong in this one place that we thought it would lift us up and make us fly away. 
Pequeña bahía protegida del viento ocasional, que da seguridad y privacidad idílica. Con un mar y arena limpios y sol todo el año, pero el más esperado es el de la Semana Santa. // We found an idyllic place to set up our camp in a small, protected bay, where we had a private beach all for ourselves. With a crystal clear ocean in front, beautiful sand and nice sunshine our ‘Easter 4×4 fishing camping trip had started off amazing on the first day and it was only going to get better.
Los preparativos para la pesca del Lenguado, con un equipo especial, para asegurar el rico almuerzo. // Day 2: Our fishing team started to explore the coastline and the different small beaches in the area and preparations for the catching sole fish, our favorite for a nice ceviche..
Imagínese estar allí! Hermosas tomas de los momentos precisos de la pesca exitosa. // Imagine being there! Beautiful shots of the precise moments of successful fishing.
Allí está, el pescado más fino del mundo, el majestuoso y delicioso lenguado del mar peruano. Directo del mar al plato. Nada, absolutamente nada mejor!!! // There is, the finest fish of the world, the majestic and delicious lenguado of the Peruvian sea. And .. directly it went from the ocean into the passionate hands of our Master Chef. Nothing, absolutely nothing could be better then this!
Y la mano experta y apasionada del “cevichero moreno”; con limón fresco, ají, cebolla, nada más. // What in the world could taste better then a fresh ceviche from our «cevichero Ramiro Moreno» with the catch of the day and fresh lemon, Peruvian aji pepper and onions (yes, nothing more).
Los niños se aseguran excursiones en las lindas lomas soleadas de las playas de Ica. // Both he children and the adults fully enjoyed this beautiful place between the colourful sand hills and the sunny beaches of Ica, far away from noice and civilisation.
Los atardeceres en las costas rocosas de esta zona son un deleite para la vista. // The sunsets at the rocky shores of this area are a delight for the eye.
Las Pirámides de Ocucaje son una vista surrealista de lo que allí ocurre, venga a verlo usted mismo. // The Pyramids of Ocucaje are only one of the many surrealistic views on this wonderful trip, wouldn’t you come and have a look yourself!