Ballestas Islands & Paracas Reserce
Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve Tour – A Must-See Coastal Adventure in Peru
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Peru’s southern coast with our Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve Tour — the perfect blend of wildlife, natural wonders, and scenic landscapes. This full-day eco-adventure departs from Paracas and takes you on a thrilling speedboat journey to the Ballestas Islands, often referred to as the “Galápagos of Peru,” where you’ll witness colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and countless seabirds in their natural habitat. Along the way, marvel at the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph, etched into the coastal hills. The tour continues with a guided exploration of the Paracas National Reserve, a protected desert-meets-ocean ecosystem renowned for its dramatic cliffs, red-sand beaches, and sweeping ocean views. Learn about the region’s unique biodiversity, ancient cultures, and geological formations while soaking in the serenity of this untouched paradise. Ideal for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and eco-conscious travellers, this tour offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience just a few hours from Lima. Join us and uncover one of the most spectacular coastal tours in Peru — a must-do for every visitor seeking authentic and unforgettable adventures in Paracas.
Top Highlights
- Speedboat ride to Ballestas Islands to spot sea lions, penguins, and marine birds.
- View the ancient Candelabra geoglyph carved into the Paracas coastal hills.
- Explore Paracas Reserve's dramatic desert landscapes and coastal cliffs.
- Perfect for wildlife lovers, nature enthusiasts, and eco-minded travellers.
- Unforgettable coastal adventure just a few hours away from Lima.
Tour Level: Easy – suitable for all ages and fitness levels
Type of Service: Small group guided tour with bilingual local guide
Departure Point: Office at 8:00am
Duration: Approx. 4 to 5 hours (including both Ballestas Islands and Reserve)
Tour Type: Nature and wildlife tour / Eco-adventure / Coastal sightseeing
The tour begins at 8:00 am from our office in Paracas, where you’ll embark on a scenic speedboat ride across the bay to marvel at the enigmatic Candelabra geoglyph, etched into the coastal hillside. From there, the journey continues to the Ballestas Islands, home to a stunning variety of marine life including sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and numerous seabird species. After enjoying the natural spectacle, you’ll return to Paracas at approximately 10:00 am and have a short 40-minute break before the second part of the adventure begins. At 11:00 am, you’ll join a guided group tour of the Paracas National Reserve, a protected desert-meets-ocean ecosystem rich in biodiversity and geological wonders. Highlights include ancient marine fossils, the dramatic Supay viewpoint, the natural rock formation known as La Catedral, the serene Yumaque beach, the striking Isthmus viewpoint, and the iconic Red Beach (Playa Roja). You’ll also have the option to visit the local museum and interpretation centre to learn more about the area’s unique ecology and cultural history. The tour concludes with a return to Paracas at approximately 3:00 pm.
Book now for an eco-tourism experience you won’t forget!
Included:
- Speedboat tour to the Ballestas Islands.
- Visit to the Candelabra geoglyph.
- Group guided tour of the Paracas National Reserve.
- Professional bilingual guide (English/Spanish).
- Transport within the Reserve (shared vehicle).
- Entry to beaches and viewpoints within the Reserve.
- Life jackets and safety equipment for the boat tour.
Not Included:
- Entrance fee: Ballestas & Paracas Reserve (S/.22 or approx. USD 7 per person).
- Snacks, meals or drinks.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off (available at extra cost).
- Entry to the Interpretation Centre and Museum (optional, small fee).
- Personal expenses or tips for the guide.
Note:
Entrance fee is not included in the tour price and must be paid in cash (in Peruvian soles or US dollars) directly at the port before departure.
✅ Allowed:
- Photography and video (non-professional equipment).
- Binoculars for birdwatching.
- Personal backpacks or small bags.
- Hats and sunglasses.
Water in personal bottles.
❌ Not Allowed:
- Drones (prohibited by local authorities).
- Littering or feeding wildlife.
- Smoking during the tour.
- Large luggage or suitcases.
- Loud music or disruptive behaviour.
🎒 What to Bring:
- Light jacket or windbreaker (it can be windy).
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Comfortable shoes (you won’t disembark but comfort matters).
- Camera or smartphone for photos.
- Cash in soles or US dollars for entrance fee.
- A small bottle of water.
Please note that the meeting point for this tour is at our main office in Paracas, and all passengers must arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time to complete the check-in process and receive safety instructions. It is essential to provide a valid phone number with WhatsApp access at the time of booking, as we may need to contact you for updates or last-minute changes related to the tour.
⚠️ This tour is not suitable for cruise ship passengers arriving at San Martín Port, due to timing restrictions and distance from Paracas.
Please be aware that this tour for Ballestas Islands is highly weather-dependent and may be modified, delayed, or cancelled without prior notice for safety reasons, in accordance with maritime conditions and port authority guidelines.
As the Ballestas Islands are a protected natural reserve, wildlife sightings are common but cannot be guaranteed, as the presence of sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and birds depends on seasonal and environmental factors.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to ensure a safe and respectful experience in one of Peru’s most biodiverse coastal areas.
This tour is confirmed immediately upon booking, and you will receive an official confirmation by email or WhatsApp. We accept all major credit and debit cards and offer secure online payment options for your convenience.
You may cancel or reschedule your tour up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time at no additional cost. If you fail to show up on the day of the tour (No Show), no refunds or rescheduling will be offered.
In the event that the tour must be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or by decision of the port authorities, we will offer you the following three alternatives:
Postpone your tour to the next available departure.
Join an alternative tour of equal value.
Receive a full refund of your payment.
We are committed to providing flexibility and transparency, ensuring your experience in Paracas is enjoyable, safe, and fair under all circumstances.
Why Book This Tour
Why Book With Us?
To see more Tours in Paracas
To see more Tours in Peru
What Our Customers Say
Our clients consistently praise our tours for their professionalism, punctuality, and exceptional service. Many highlight the knowledgeable bilingual guides, the comfort and safety of our boats, and the unforgettable wildlife sightings. With thousands of positive reviews, travellers recommend us as the top choice for Paracas tours, ensuring a memorable and hassle-free experience every time.
Trevor Berceau2025-06-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We did the half day tour, starting with a boat tour of the islas ballestas, and then going on a driving tour through the reserve. The whole tour was excellent. The boat tour was good and we saw many types of birds, penguins, sea lions, and dolphins. the driving tour through the desert far exceeded expectations. Olenka was an amazing guide, she did a great job explaining things at every point along the way, adapted the tour to our interests, and was great at engaging our whole family. She had excellent English and a lot of knowledge about the area, both geography and history. I highly recommend this trip. Hugo Desjardins2025-06-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service de José, réponds très rapidement et nous avons passé une très belle excursion sans imprévus. Michelle Castaneda2025-06-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. JD Travel did an amazing job coordinating this Nazca flight/transfers. Jose went above and beyond to make sure we could participate in this activity. It did not disappoint! The flight time was moved by the airline and Jose made every effort to help us with this change. I could not recommend this activity or JD Travel more. Jose is the best! Martin Kollmann2025-06-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was an outstanding experience organized by a skilled local entrepreneur and his team. Thank you, Jose for the hospitality! Delia Spiegl2025-06-13Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 100 % recommendation friendly tour guide, everything well organised Felix2025-06-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very helpful & friendly! Helped us organize direct transport from Paracas to Huacachina. Highly recommend JD 🙏🏽 Edwin Cannon2025-05-29Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Archeological dig sites at Huaca del Sol and Luna (moon) Chan Chan were fascinating. It's amazing that these painted petroglyphs have been buried for centuries. They appeared like they were just carved. Chan Chan stone carvings as well. I particularly was fascinated by the Luna Pool (moon pool) where worship was conducted towards the Moon God and often times involved human sacrifice. Your tour was the only tour to conclude at the Peru surf capital Playa de Huanchaco (Huanchaco beach). The Sombrero restaurant was fabulous drinking juice carafes, eating shrimp and watching surfing. What a wonderful day. T J2025-05-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very good tour guides and tour. The owner is very helpful and I had a nice chat with him. Highly recommended! Spoorti Shivamurthy2025-05-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jose and his team were fantastic. All the guides were knowledgeable, especially Augustino in Machupicchu. Jose takes personal attention to all the activities and our experience. Extremely clean vehicles for all transfers. Highly recommend his company for your Peru trip.
Michelle C2025-06-20Verified Fantastic Tour Provider JD Travel did an amazing job coordinating this Nazca flight/transfers. Jose went above and beyond to make sure we could participate in this activity. It did not disappoint! The flight time was moved by the airline and Jose made every effort to help us with this change. I could not recommend this activity or JD Travel more. Jose is the best! gabrielBZ2025-03-24Verified Precise islands full of pelagic birds and some, unique. Beautiful and essential visit to the Ballestas Islands, you sail 1/2 hour in a speedboat. First you visit the coastal area and see the spectacular “Candelabra” figure made on the ground of the pre-Inca era. Then you're headed to the islands. My interest was to see birds. And my interest was filled. I wanted to see the spectacular Inca terns. The boat handling is fabulous. You are in the Pacific and you have to know how to drive very well because they come very close to the islands. The seascape or rock formations are also unique and spectacular. It's a lovely ride. And absolutely recommended. Yris yaneth M2025-03-10Verified Nice experiences We were given a tour of the skies through the Nazca Lines this is a very important site of interest in Peru is company IZI organizes very well transfers to the airport and flights to see them independently this is a challenge that thrills the view from above the sky enjoying its beautiful landscapes the condor, hands, spider and tree among othersHERBERT SOLORZANO Linda B2025-01-04Verified Don’t miss this! Trip was fantastic and we had logistics issues on our end and they found a way to make the trip happen despite that! Wonderful customer service and the natural beauty of the islands was stunning! fossil12024-12-15Verified Outstanding trip, great value and excellent service Booked the tour about a month before the cruise and the trip could not go any more smoothly. Price was outstanding and was about $200 less per person than the same tour offeered by Princess. Jose and his staff were at the pier as promised and took us for a short drive to the boat in Paracas for the tour bypassing several other groups that were waiting for their boat. His staff was excellent inculding our guide Olinka (sp?) who knew her stuff and was easy to understand. I must confess some apprehension as Princess warned us that independent operators could not enter the port area (false) though they alerted us to the same situation in Lima (Callao). He and his staff met us at the gangway in Paracas as promised. We did not see any independnet operators in Lima. Jose and his saff ushered through the entire boarding process and did the same when our boat returned.The boat carrying approximately 40 people was in great condition and the cpatain did a wonderful job showing us the wildlife and guano fields. He made certain that both sides of the boat had ample opportunity to see the wildlife and take pictures. We had a brilliant sunny day and the canopy on the boat shielded us from the sun.Highly recommended as Jose was responsive to several emails with detailed explanations. At the conclusion of the tours my wife decided to return back to the ship with their return transfer whike I stayed in gthe small town for lunch and shopping. His restaurant recommendation as spot on as well--Muna.My only recommendation to the tour operator is that they encourage people to provide voluntary tips to both the guide and the boat captain. I was surprised that very few people and I mean very few people gave tips.The trip was outstanding and I highly recommend the company--job very well done. If I return, I would book them again for other trips without any hesitation.For those arriving by ship, book them! djackley2024-11-29Verified Paracas and Ballestas Islands A little rough to start off with as the company took us early to the wrong meet up location. 30 minutes later we joined the group. Boat trip was wonderful and the guide spoke in clear English as she described history, birds and sea life of the area and the islands. Great photos and wonderful day. Bring sunscreen and a hat! Linda F2024-11-05Verified This is a must do in Paracas This was definitely a tour that you should take while in Paracas. It was absolutely fantastic, first you sail to the candelabra to take pictures from the boat. They turn the boat so that each side can see it and take pictures. Then you go to Ballestas which was absolutely fantastic. We do recommend you bring a wind breaker since you will get wet.We highly recommend this tour Linda F2024-11-05Verified Great and exciting tour This tour was great, we had an excellent guide. It is a well organized tour with three short stops to take pictures. It is an amazing place to see and the dune buggy was a great way to see it. I highly recommend doing it, take the extended route.