Located just off the shores of Paracas, heading on a Ballestas Islands tour is one of the best things you can do along Peru’s Pacific regions.
Known for their incredible levels of diversity (which are often compared with the Galápagos Islands), here we can see everything from soaring Cormorants and chilled-out Sea Lions to the famed Humboldt Penguin. As such heading on a tour here is a must, which can easily be organized from the capital of Lima.
In this guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about heading on a Ballestas Islands tour. This includes why you should visit, how to book the right tour for you as well as the length of the tour. We’ll also answer any burning questions you may have in our FAQ section.
Table of Contents
Below we’ll take a look at some of the biggest reasons why you should visit the Ballestas Islands, which is a really simple trip to organize from Lima.
Whilst Peru’s coastal regions as a whole have many great spots to see different animals, the Ballestas Islands easily tops them all and is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the region. It’s one of the only places where we can see Penguins in Peru – as there is a colony of Humboldt Penguins living on the islands. As well as seeing dozens of Sea Lions swimming about too, the sky above is also full of all kinds of marine birds that fly in neatly organized lines.
Although Paracas has developed a lot in the last couple of decades thanks to the popularity of the Ballestas Islands, the town is still keeping true to its identity – which is that of a small, traditional fishing town. During the tour you’ll see many fishing boats out on the waves, who are collecting fish both to sell and also eat for lunch that same day. In fact by looking up at the birds you’ll find it easier to spot fishing boats – given they are often trying to steal their daily catches!
The giant hieroglyph of Candelabro is located right in the Paracas National Reserve, and during the Ballestas Islands tour we’ll get some really great views. Thought to have been created by the ancient Paracas culture over 2000 years ago, they are very similar in their formation when compared with the infamous Nazca Lines which are also located in this same arid region of Peru.
Whilst the strong majority of attention is paid to the local animals found here (and rightfully so given the diversity of what’s found here), the actual landscapes here themselves shouldn’t be underestimated either. Here we can find giant rocky formations spearing out of the Pacific Ocean, and some with a beautiful red tint to them. During the boat ride you’ll navigate around these shards, where you’ll also want to keep your eyes peeled since the Sea Lions are usually found sunbathing on top of them.
Most travelers start their travels around Peru in Lima, given it’s the main entrance into the country. From the capital it’s very easy to head on different day trips to places like Paracas and Huacachina, which are just a few hours away. When joining an organized day tour you can easily see the highlights of the Ballestas Islands and Paracas, which also usually includes all transport and a professional tour guide to lead your group.
Usually tours will run from the early morning up until the evening, although there’s definitely distinct advantages of going earlier (where there will be less other tourists and more active wildlife for you to spot).
Once you arrive at the harbor, you’ll then need to wait in line to purchase your Ballestas Islands tour ticket, unless you are heading on an organized tour from Lima where you can simply skip-by. From here you’ll then board the boat, be given a life-jacket and have a brief explanation of the tour rules and safety guidelines.
Departing from Paracas, we will then first head out into the waters of the Paracas National Reserve. The first major site we will see along the way are the Calendabro Ruins, which is a trident-style hieroglyph which was thought to have been created by the ancient Paracas Culture over 2000 years ago.
After 20-30 minutes more of sailing we will then reach the Ballestas Islands, where we will see many Sea Lions lounging about on open rocks. It’s common to see many birds flying overhead in perfectly straight lines, as well as the highlight of the Humboldt Penguins which live on the islands.
After some time exploring the different islands and rocky formations, we will then head back to the Paracas dock to end the Ballestas Islands tour. If you are heading with us on our organized day tour from Lima, you will now head in private transportation to the Huacachina Oasis which is our next destination.
Whilst there are different time-slots which you can choose for your tour throughout the day, the actual tour itself doesn’t really change in terms of its schedule. Overall the tour will take around 2 hours, which includes the time to get to and from the Ballestas Islands from Paracas.
This is especially useful to know if visiting independently from Lima, as you’ll need to plan your bus back in advance and make sure you’ve got enough time to get to the bus stop before it departs.
Whilst the Ballestas Islands are right off the coast of the fishing town of Paracas, it’s worth comparing all options before coming here.
Heading on a tour from Lima has its own advantages, with one of the biggest being that the main highlights of these islands can easily be seen within one day. This means it’s not necessary to stay in Paracas overnight, which you would have to do if using public transportation (given bus schedules back to Lima are very limited).
Another distinct advantage is the quality of service you will get. If you choose to visit by yourself, you’ll need to make your own way to the harbor to book your tickets. You’ll then be assigned one guide for a large group, which can be difficult to ask questions given the speed of the tour. Alternatively with a private tour from Lima you’ll have a professional tour guide with you every step of the way, and also won’t need to wait in queues to buy boat tour tickets on the day.
Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we operate an incredible day tour from Lima which includes flexible travel within a private vehicle. This means you won’t have to worry about rushing the tour to get back to the capital, whilst also enjoying an air-conditioned ride through these desert regions. You’ll also have an experienced guide show you around, with more customized attention than what you would receive with a public group tour of the islands.
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about heading on a Ballestas Islands tour in Peru.
Given that the Ballestas Islands are a protected natural region of Peru, this means that swimming is not allowed. Not only is this to protect the wildlife here (as well as the islands which cannot be walked upon), these rules are also in place to protect people given the currents can be very strong in these areas which would make swimming dangerous.
It’s important to know that these islands are quite windy, and will often feel much cooler than you would feel back in Paracas before starting the tour. For this reason we advise bringing a jumper or windbreaker to keep you warm when out at sea. If heading on an early morning tour, then it’s a good idea to bring a coat instead given it can be even colder during these hours.
One of the most ecologically-diverse islands in South America, we can find all kinds of exciting animal species in the Ballestas Islands. This includes a colony of Humboldt Penguins, Sea Lions, Cormorants and other native marine birds. If you’re lucky you may even spot dolphins and migrating whales during the tour too!
And that’s all for this guide on what you need to know about heading on a Ballestas Islands tour in Peru.
These epic Pacific islands have already become a major hotspot for tourists to visit when around Lima, given they are home to so many beautiful species. Thankfully as we’ve seen they are very easy to head to, and especially so if you want to visit directly from Lima.
Are you thinking of exploring the Ballestas Islands straight from Lima? Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we operate a one-of-a-kind day tour to these incredible coastal islands, which includes private transport, a knowledgeable guide to teach you everything you need to know as well as time within the desert oasis of Huacachina.
Wednesday July 31, 2024
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