Lima · PARACAS & BALLESTAS ISLANDS
47 reviewed
The Ballestas boat is the gentlest big day out of Lima, and the tour you pick sets the pace. Here are the best Paracas and Ballestas Islands trips, with what each morning includes (the boat to the sea lions and penguins, the Paracas reserve, the candelabra), current prices, and which run as a long day from Lima versus an easy start from Paracas itself.
From Lima to Paracas and Huacachina for Ballestas wildlife, pisco tasting, and optional dune buggy and sandboarding.
“The day trip was long but so worth it! The bus was comfortable with incredible wifi. My guide Yeli was so patient and organised helping us to get everywhere on time with all the information we needed. I had a great day, highly recommend!”
Paracas wildlife boat, pisco tastings at Taqara 1856, and Huacachina dune buggies and sandboarding from Lima in one packed day.
“Great food, people , adventures, awesome time, great places , a lot of historical events and sand boarding”
From Lima, cruise Ballestas Islands for sea lions and penguins, then roar through Huacachina dunes with pisco and wine in Ica.
“Fantastic day - an absolute MUST! 🌟 We all had a blast! If you have one full day in Lima, just go for it. 🐧 The boat ride from Paracas was incredible - we saw penguins, sea lions, baby crayfish, and stunning rock formations! 🦭 Lunch and pisco tasting in Ica was lovely, funny, and absolutely delicious. 🥃✨ 🏜️ The Huacachina desert oasis was magical, and the buggy ride across the sand dunes was so much fun! Sandboarding down the hills was awesome! 🏄♂️ ⚠️ Just be prepared - it's a marathon 19-hour day from the moment you board the bus at 4 AM until you're dropped off at 11…”
Sea lions and penguins at Paracas, pisco tasting, and Huacachina dune buggy plus sandboarding in one long day from Lima.
“I tip my hat to Eduardo, the drivers of the van who drove us to the different sites and also the the gentleman who drove the buggy over the sand dunes. Eduardo was prudent and careful. The buggy driver was equally prudent but also took us on an exhilarating roller coaster like ride. The tours and the food were excellent. Omar, at the Pisco tasting place, was entertaining.”
Morning speedboat tour from Paracas to El Candelabro and the Ballestas Islands to spot penguins, sea lions, and birds on a 2-hour ride.
“The experience was wonderful, just one thing to suggest try to be the least invasive with the animals”
One-day Paracas boat cruise with sea lions, pisco tasting at NIETO, and Huacachina 4WD dunes plus sandboarding from Lima.
“It was a long day but there was so many fun things packed in, it was worth it. The lunch was incredible. Maybe pack some snacks so you don’t have to find random side of the road food which was questionable. Guide was great and bus was comfy”
Speed boat wildlife in Paracas, pisco and wine tastings in Ica, then Huacachina dunes with buggy rides and sandboarding, with hotel pickup.
“Excellent experience all throughout. You start very early in the morning and start with a breakfast and then keep going on your way to Paracas. Is about a 3 hour bus ride there, definitely recommend sto sleep on the bus as the day is going to be full of activities. Miguel Angel our tour guide was very entertaining, and enthusiastic about what he does and the history of the place. The experience with the dune buggy and the sand boarding was definitely a thrill and unique. 100% recommend this tour.”
From Paracas, a speedboat wildlife cruise and Paracas National Reserve stops. See flamingos, sea lions, penguins, and swim at Lagunillas.
“El tour se divide en 2 partes: primero fuimos en speedboat a las Islas Ballestas, donde vimos pingüinos y lobos marinos y El Candelabro. Tras volver a Paracas, nos recogieron para la segunda parte a la Reserva Natural de Paracas, donde hicimos paradas en varios spots para ver el paisaje. En la penúltima parada había opción de bañarse en el mar y en la última podías comer en un restaurante frente al mar. El tiempo para la parada de la comida fue muy limitado, debería ser algo más de tiempo. Andrea, la chica de la agencia fue muy amable con nosotros en todo momento, gracias!”
Two-hour Ballestas Islands eco-tour from Paracas with a bilingual guide, wildlife viewing, and a Candelabro stop, plus hotel transfers.
“Had the best guide who let us sit in VIP seats in the boat!”
A long Lima day trip that links **Ballestas Islands**, a **Nazca Lines flight**, and **Huacachina Oasis** with hotel pickup and a live guide.
“I had a most wonderful time with an extremely reliable, competent and friendly team. The trip was tailered to my individual preferences as far as possible and additionally I was given high quality insights into the geography and economy of the area. Moreover the team provided a very safe environment and really very efficiently made the most of my time! Thank you so much!!!”
A long day from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with a Ballestas boat wildlife cruise plus dune buggy thrills and sandboarding.
“Both locations were memorable yet different and the excitement of not knowing what you will see and the thrill of the rides were fulfilling”
A 17-hour Lima day trip to Ballestas Islands and Huacachina: sea-lion and penguin boat wildlife, plus dune buggies, sandboarding, and sunset.
“Loved all parts of the tour, the tour bus used was comfortable and even had a place to charge your phone. Our tour guide David gave good information along the bus ride giving the history on the places we were visiting. The dune buggies and sand boarding at Huacachina was honestly such a fun experience and the view was insane. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the place we stopped for breakfast, the service was slow, so I actually didn’t have time to eat before boarding the boat, and the food was bad according to the rest of my group who got there food a little before me. In…”
Drive your own mini buggy go-kart through Paracas National Reserve, stopping at Yumaque Beach and Playa Roja for desert-ocean views.
“Liked most: Guide offered to take pictures so we had an impromptu photoshoot. Easy to learn how to drive on it. Improvement: a bit bigger buggy. A bit of an explanation at each stop and why it's interesting/special about it would've been appreciated. More control over the group, one driver decided to overpass another and went into the next lane while on the actual road, could've been dangerous.”
2-hour Ballestas Islands boat tour from Puerto San Martín: Candelabra views, sea lions and penguins. Lifejacket included.
“Besides the very confusing information about the pick up location and time, we enjoyed the trip itself very much.”
Private paragliding flight over Paracas National Reserve with round-trip transfers, bilingual guidance, and unique coastline photos. From $107.
“Great guys and great experience. Took my 58 year old mom and 14 year old son. Both enjoyed it. Great views”
