Home to Humboldt Penguins, beautiful Pacific Ocean views and even red sand beaches, Paracas is an incredible destination to visit in Peru.
Many travelers will want to visit Paracas from Lima considering how close they are to each other, which makes it an ideal day trip to do. However it can be difficult to decide which way is best, given there are various transportation options from the Peruvian capital.
In this guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about getting from Lima to Paracas. This includes why you should visit, whether it’s worth heading for just a day as well as the different transport methods to get here.
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Paracas is an incredible day trip to make from Lima, and is also easy to organize given it’s situated just a few hours away from the capital.
It’s most famous for the Ballestas Islands which are located out in the Pacific, which are known for their incredible levels of biodiversity. Here we can spot everything from Humboldt Penguins and Seals to thousands of marine birds flying in perfectly organized lines overhead.
This small coastal town also has some nearby beaches which are great to visit year-round, and especially so since they have clear skies (whereas Lima can often be cloudy). In between trips to the beaches we can also visit impressive museums such as the Julio C Tello Site Museum as well as the Centro de Interpretación. You can learn more about why you should visit Paracas and the nearby Ballestas Islands.
Paracas is located within the region of Ica, which lies just underneath Lima. This town is located along the Pacific Coast roughly 260 km south of Lima, and takes around 3-4 hours to drive to.
It’s quite an arid area of Peru, meaning temperatures will be very warm during the day and also chilly at night. This makes it great for enjoying the beach, however you’ll want to make sure you bring a coat or sweater if staying for the night (or leaving on an early bus to get here).
Whilst Lima can be overcast, here in Paracas the skies are much clearer and the temperatures are warmer. For this reason be sure to wear lots of sunscreen.
There are many species that are endemic to these islands, with many stating that it’s a great alternative to the expensive Galápagos Islands. Here we can spot everything from Penguins, Seals and Orcas to Flamingos and the Peruvian Booby.
Once here, you’ll find this small town is very easy to walk around on foot. The docks where the island tours depart from are a little outside town, however there are local transport methods too which can be used.
Here we will now explore your different options of getting from Lima to Paracas, including the key things to know, the pros as well as the cons of each transport method.
One of the best ways to get from Lima to Paracas is to head on an organized day trip from the capital.
With pick-up and drop-off included, you’ll have a much more comfortable experience here and won’t need to travel to catch the bus. It’s also ideal since you won’t be limited to transport schedules, and can enjoy the area more without rushing around to get back in time.
Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we operate our own awesome day tour to Paracas. As well as private transport, you’ll have a knowledgeable local guide take you around Paracas, seeing all of the best sights and learning the history (with the boat tour around the Ballestas Islands included). You’ll also visit Huacachina on the way to go Sandboarding and try Pisco at a local winery!
The other way of reaching Paracas is to use public transportation, with buses taking roughly 4 hours to reach the terminal in town. It’s important to mention that the method to get here will be similar if traveling from Lima to Huacachina (which is why it’s best to see both at the same time).
You’ll firstly need to travel to the bus stations in La Victoria, where there are several operators to choose between (such as Jaksa and PerúBus). If you choose this method, then you’ll want to leave on the early buses around 6:00am to make the most of your day. This also means you’ll need to leave in the mid-afternoon to get back to Lima the same day.
Overall it’s the cheapest option, however you will be rushed to fit everything in one day here. You’ll also need to bring a few extra layers since the buses can get quite cold at night, and will need to book separate taxis to get to and from the bus stations in both Lima and Paracas.
And that’s all for this guide on how to get from Lima to Paracas in Peru.
The perfect place to spot all kinds of marine wildlife and to go birdwatching, Paracas has become a must-visit for anyone who visits Lima. It’s also an easy day trip to make too, where we can get here from the capital in just a few hours (although an organized tour is the quickest and most comfortable way).
Are you looking to explore Paracas and the Ballestas Islands? Take a look at our Incredible Day Tour from Lima which includes private transport, where you’ll also visit Huacachina and get to fly over the ancient Nazca Lines.
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