Ballestas, Paracas and Tambo
Full Tour Ballestas Islands, Paracas Reserve & Tambo Colorado | Nature and History in One Day
Embark on a captivating full-day tour from Paracas that perfectly blends wildlife, desert landscapes, and ancient history. Begin with a scenic boat ride to the iconic Ballestas Islands, often called the “Galapagos of Peru,” where you’ll spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and flocks of guano birds, along with the mysterious Candelabro geoglyph. Then, continue to the awe-inspiring Paracas National Reserve, known for its dramatic cliffs, fossil-rich formations, and stunning beaches like Playa Roja and Lagunillas. After soaking in the natural beauty, travel inland to discover Tambo Colorado, a remarkably preserved Inca site where you’ll witness colourful adobe structures and learn about pre-Columbian life far from tourist crowds. This tour is ideal for travellers seeking an enriching, private experience that showcases Peru’s ecological wonders and rich cultural heritage in just one unforgettable day.
Top Highlights
- Explore Ballestas Islands by boat and spot sea lions, penguins and guano birds in the wild.
- Discover Paracas Reserve’s red beaches, cliffs, fossils and dramatic desert scenery.
- Visit Tambo Colorado, a well-preserved Inca site with colourful adobe walls and rural charm.
- Enjoy a private, personalised tour with expert guide, flexible timing and scenic stops.
- Experience nature, wildlife and ancient culture in one unforgettable full-day coastal adventure.
Tour level: Easy – Suitable for all ages.
Departure: From Paracas, 8:00 a.m. (hotel pick-up or agreed meeting point).
Duration: Approximately 7 to 8 hours.
Tour type: Combo – Nature, culture and archaeology.
Service type: Group and Private, with certified guide in English or Spanish.
Your adventure begins with pick-up from your hotel or designated meeting point at the scheduled time. Today will be a full day of exploration, nature and culture as we take you through the very best of Paracas and beyond. We start with a scenic boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, where you’ll spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guano birds and the mysterious Candelabro geoglyph etched into the desert hillside. Next, we’ll journey into the heart of the Paracas National Reserve, visiting the iconic viewpoints of La Catedral and Supay, the striking Red Beach (Playa Roja), and the peaceful shores of Lagunillas Beach, surrounded by spectacular desert landscapes and ancient marine fossils. After a short break, we travel inland (approx. 1.5 hours) through valleys and coastal scenery to reach Tambo Colorado, one of the best-preserved Inca adobe complexes, where you’ll walk among colourful walls and learn about life during the Inca Empire in a less-touristic setting. The tour ends with a comfortable return to your hotel, completing an unforgettable day filled with wildlife, archaeology, and breathtaking views along the Peruvian coast.
Included:
- Private transport throughout the tour.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Paracas.
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands (shared service).
- Guided visit to Paracas National Reserve (private).
- Guided visit to Tambo Colorado (private).
- Professional bilingual guide (English / Spanish).
- Bottled water on board.
- All logistical coordination and personalised service.
Not Included:
- Entrance fee (S/.28 soles or USD $8.00 – cash only).
- Food and drinks.
- Tips (optional).
Note:
The entrance fees is not included in the tour price and must be paid directly in cash or card at the control point, in Peruvian soles.
✅ Allowed:
- Taking photos and videos (without flash inside the museum).
- Bringing water bottles.
- Wearing comfortable clothing and sun protection.
- Asking questions to the guide during the tour.
- Accessing both upper and inner areas of the site under supervision.
❌ Not Allowed:
- Climbing or touching archaeological walls and structures.
- Entering restricted or closed-off areas.
- Consuming food or drinks inside the archaeological zone.
- Littering or removing stones or artefacts.
- Use of drones without prior official permission.
🎒 What to Bring:
- Cash in soles for entrance fee.
- Sunglasses, hat, and high-SPF sunscreen.
- Comfortable clothes for warm and windy conditions.
- Refillable water bottle.
- Camera or smartphone.
- Light snacks (optional).
- Windbreaker or light jacket (optional – coastal breeze).
Pick up will be at your hotel, where our staff will welcome you and assist you. Please be ready at your hotel lobby at least 20 minutes before your selected departure time to ensure a smooth and timely start.
Please note that the Ballestas Islands boat tour is subject to weather and sea conditions. In the event of cancellation due to bad weather or port closure (as determined by the local harbour authorities), we will offer you the following options:
Reschedule the tour for another available day
Take an alternative land-based tour
Continue only with the land tour and receive a partial refund
Cancel the full tour and receive a full refund
Your safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding.
All travellers must provide a valid WhatsApp number during booking or confirmation so we can stay in touch for any last-minute updates, meeting instructions, or emergencies.
This tour is not suitable for cruise ship passengers arriving at San Martín Port, as the timings and logistics do not match cruise schedules. Please note that this is a land-based tour with fixed departure times and we are unable to offer custom pickups from the port.
For the best experience, we recommend this tour for visitors who are staying overnight or arriving independently in Paracas.
Your 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.
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?
Ballestas, Paracas & Tambo
From $95 USD per person
Free Cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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.
Posted on Ainsley Gaudet31 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jose, was very accommodating to us when we decided we wanted to switch to a buggy rather than a scooter. Meant so much to us & we had a phenomenal time. The ladies that assisted us were helpful and very sweet. Great communication all in all, everyone we spoke to answered our questions to the fullest. Totally recommend booking with JD Adventures.Posted on K.C. Worrall3 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our experience with JD Adventure Travel was terrific! We were met exactly on time and in the right place and whisked away without a moments' loss. Our guide, Olenka, stayed with us the entire tour and was delightful! She was very knowledgeable and also knew how to get the best out of every situation. We could not have been more pleased with the whole tour, and highly recommend JD Adventure Travel to everyone!Posted on Marta Iwanicka15 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Super wycieczka, polecamPosted on 岡安尚子1 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. ベルーのカヤオ港からクスコとマチュピチュを観光する2泊3日のツアーでした。 23人という大人数でしたが、余裕を持ったスケジュールで、何の心配もありませんでした。各地を堪能し、楽しむことができました。ツアーガイドもマチュピチュの日本語ガイドも素晴らしかったです。Posted on Ignacio Cabrera26 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Muy buena experiencia! La recomiendo 100%.Posted on Pablo Galofré20 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excelente experiencia con la scotter por Paracas, y gracias a las recomendaciones de José, un gran día!Posted on Daniel George18 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Absolutely fantastic experience with Peru Sights! Their team was professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. The tour of Machu Picchu was seamless and truly awe-inspiring.Posted on tim breidbach16 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nice experience, super easy communication beforehand. We did the 3pm bufggy tour through the nature reserve and had to take the 5:40 Pm back to Lima. The crew made sure everything is on time and we had a nice closing of our paracas experiece. Would definetly recommend.Posted on Marly Rocha7 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nos gustaría agradecer a Jorge por su atención y cuidado. Fue brillante.Posted on 李賦庭6 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The agent was super helpful! They gave me traffic information from Ica and answered all my questions. They keep following my traffic condition and successfully took me on the flight, even though there was traffic jam. The flight was wonderful! Highly recommended.
Posted on Tom KVerified Boat and Buggy tour This was brilliant. We did a boat tour to the islands to see Seals, Penguins and birds. Then had an hour break before going on a buggy tour through the national park visiting multiple beaches and driving the buggy through the desert. Completely safe, follow a private guide and see many incredible sights. Worth doing!Posted on SidRamageVerified Great views of the amazing Nazca Lines! Plane left punctually, flies for about 40 minutes to Nazca, spends 40 minutes there then flies back. The views of these extraordinary features were wonderful with every chance to take photos as the pilot made sure that passengers on both sides of the plane got excellent views of everything. Compared to a long drive to visit on foot (which would not allow you to properly see the full scale of the images) this is a must.Posted on Denise DVerified Two sites, one good tour. The weather was beautiful to visit the Ballestas Islands for the boat ride. Fabio was a wonderful guide, very animated. He explained all of the important information for Tambo Colorado as we walked through the ruins. I would recommend Fabio and JD Travel for your next tour to Pisco port.Posted on James HVerified First Class Excursion We benefited from a well organized and well informed excursion. The Paracas National Reserve is stark and dramatic with awesome sights. The team led by Jose did everything possible to ensure that saw and understood the key elements and they were diligent in keeping us safe at all times.Posted on jkedzufVerified Boat and bus tour from Pisco. The combined boat and bus tour was great. Our tour guide was Olenka and she did a very nice job discussing and answering questions from the group of about 25. We saw numerous penguins and sea loins.Posted on Luigia CVerified Top experience We did an amazing experience in Ballestas islands and the natural reserva in Paracas!!We enjoyed and Olenka has been a lovely guide for our trip!!! Amazing time!! I will recommend for surePosted on Gudrun KVerified Great - gladly again Everything worked great (advance contact, pick-up and return information, briefing at the airport) and to top it all off there was a very pleasant flight!