The Ballestas Islands — dubbed by many “the poor man’s Galapagos” — have been eroded by the pounding Pacific Ocean surf, carving out caves and arches that provide shelter for thousands of seabirds and hundreds of sea lions. The islands are…

The Paracas Peninsula, and the Ballestas Islands that lie off its shore, comprise one of the world’s most important marine reserves. Created in 1975, this 839,800-acre (340,000 ha) protected zone is the migratory home to thousands of sea lions, penguins and…