Paracas & the Ballestas Islands · hotel
A bayside hotel in Paracas
Low-rise rooms on the bay, with the Ballestas boats leaving from the jetty in the morning.
The Coast
Paracas & the Ballestas Islands
Sea lions, desert cliffs and a boat ride to the 'poor man's Galápagos'
- Altitude
- ~5 m (16 ft)verify
- Altitude band
- Low
- Time needed
- 1–2 nights
- Zone
- The Coast
Three and a half hours south of Lima, the desert runs straight into the ocean. Morning boats head out to the Ballestas Islands, where sea lions, Humboldt penguins and thousands of seabirds share the rocks. In the afternoon, the Paracas Reserve is all red beaches and wind-carved cliffs.
No altitude effects expected. Altitude, explained
Highlights
- Ballestas Islands boat trip
- Paracas National Reserve
- Pisco vineyards near Ica
What to eat here
Ceviche
Raw white fish 'cooked' in lime juice with red onion, chilli and salt, served with sweet potato and corn. Lunch food: Peruvians rarely eat it at night.
Leche de tigre
The citrusy, spicy marinade left over from ceviche, served in a glass. Said to cure hangovers.
Pisco
Grape brandy from the valleys south of Lima. Drink it in a pisco sour, or neat to taste the grape.
Pisco tasting
Visit a bodega near Ica or a Lima bar to taste pisco from different grapes, side by side.
Accommodation
Where to stay in Paracas & the Ballestas Islands
Journeys
Journeys that go here
14 daysAndes & Amazon
The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, then down into the rainforest, and a last night by the Pacific.
From US$6,800 pp
11 daysPeru with Kids
Sea lions, Inca ruins, a train through the gorge and three days in the rainforest, at a family pace.
From US$4,600 pp
The Coast
Nearby too
Lima
~150 mThe capital, the clifftops and the best tables in South America
Huacachina
~400 mA palm-ringed oasis surrounded by giant dunes
The Nazca Lines
~520 mGiant figures drawn across the desert, best seen from above
Add Paracas & the Ballestas Islands to your trip
Tell us when you'd like to go and what you'd love to see. Your Peru Specialist will come back with ideas, honest advice on altitude and timing, and a clear price.