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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 24 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Alex Robinson

The coast around the little resort town of Paracas, including this 335,000-hectare reserve, is some of the most impressive in tropical South America: dune-rolling desert runs to caramel and blood-red crags that crumble over sheer cliffs. Powerful Pacific waves pound endless empty beaches of honey-yellow and coral-red sands.

Much of the region is protected: for its natural beauty, for the hundreds of barely-explored archaeological sites and for the abundant sea life. Sealions and Humboldt penguins bask on the sand. Just offshore, hundreds of thousands of Guanay Cormorants, boobies, terns and fur seals live on the Ballestas archipelago – a string of islands are scattered like desert rocks thrown into the blue of the Pacific.

While you’re there

The kite surfing here is excellent, with consistent winds 300 days a year. It’s a good place for beginners or if you’ve never tried it, with long stretches of relatively flat, shallow water close to the beach.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Buses leave from Ica to Paracas throughout the day, taking 90 minutes (or you can rent a car in Ica airport). Paracas has plenty of accommodation options and myriad tour agencies offering boat trips to the Ballestas Islands. You will have no trouble finding a ticket but book the night before you leave as boats generally depart at 8am.

Most boat rides pass by the Paracas National Reserve, but to see it properly you’ll need to rent a bike or an ATV, or take a tour.

When to do it

Paracas is on the edge of the Atacama desert – one of the driest most climatically stable places on Earth. Expect sun and stars all year round. There is little chance of rain ever. The wettest month, February gets less than 2cm on average. Temperatures vary by only two or three degrees summer (Sep-Mar) to winter (April-Aug).

There are kite-surfable winds all year round. They are 99% reliable September to March dropping to around 60% May to July. Boat trips run throughout the year.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Paracas National Reserve Private Tour from Paracas or Pisco

Paracas

Paracas National Reserve Private Tour from Paracas or Pisco
The Paracas National Reserve consists of the Paracas Peninsula, coastal areas and tropical desert. It provides a sanctuary to 74 species of plants that grow in this extremely arid area, and to 216 species of birds, 16 types of mammals, 10 species of reptiles and 193 species of fish. The protected natural marine area covers 3350 square kilometres, 65% of it is sea and 35% land and islands. It is considered as one of the richest and most uncommon ecosystems in the world, but in all honesty the attraction is not only the wildlife, but the beauty of the ocean and desert landscapes.

Price: $59

Min age: 0

Rating 4.88 / 5 [9 ratings]

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Paracas National Reserve Tour

Paracas

Paracas National Reserve Tour
The Paracas National Reserve Tour is a tour where you can appreciate the most beautiful landscapes of the Peruvian coast.

Price: $60

Min age: 18

Rating 4.95 / 5 [21 ratings]

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Visit to Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina

Lima

Visit to Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina
We will carry out all our tourist tour with our tourist mobilities with reclining seats, music and with a bilingual guide who will accompany you throughout the trip, providing a special service until your return from the starting point or the hotel. You and your companions will live an unforgettable adventure with all our Peruvian tradition.

Price: $71

Min age: 0

Rating 4.19 / 5 [71 ratings]

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Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve from San Martin Port

Paracas

Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve from San Martin Port
If your cruise dock at San Martin Port, don't miss this great opportunity and visit the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve in our exclusive small group tour.

Price: $100

Min age: 0

Rating 4.82 / 5 [34 ratings]

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Full Day from Lima: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

Lima

Full Day from Lima: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve
Wondering what to do in Lima, escape the city day on this tour from Lima. This tour allows you to escape the city to the beach of Paracas, where you’ll boat out to the Ballestas Islands, known as Peru’s Galapagos, and visit the Paracas National Reserve, in just 1 single day. This full-day tour includes hotel pick up and transportation from Lima to the islands by coach. This tour is good for couples, good for solo travelers, and good for big groups. Please make sure to review the itinerary properly.

Price: $129

Min age: 0

Rating 4.70 / 5 [139 ratings]

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Full Day Paracas Ica and Huacachina from Lima All Included

Lima

Full Day Paracas Ica and Huacachina from Lima All Included
We will leave the traditional way of visiting sculptures, old houses, city, to live an experience in nature. We will have a day full of landscapes, ecosystem, marine fauna and adrenaline that are not lived in other places of the capital. It will be very important to relax and forget about the classic to enter a panorama of full fun. The best thing is that your camera will be filled with funny photos and videos and we will interact with all the people who go with us, we will make new friends. You cannot miss the opportunity to know the south of Lima and visit the great Oasis of America and the great Ballestas Islands. This tour has it all!! - Enjoy the great marine view that Paracas offers - Forget everything by sliding on the sandboard boards - Try more than 15 types of Peruvian liquors - Dare to live this beautiful adventure

Price: $135

Min age: 4

Rating 4.51 / 5 [485 ratings]

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Paracas, Ica and Huacachina with Buggies and Sandboard (From Lima)

Lima

Paracas, Ica and Huacachina with Buggies and Sandboard (From Lima)
For people who love nature and adventure sports, this Tour is ideal. It begins with the pick up from your hotel in Tourist mobility at 4:00 am to the city of Paracas, upon arrival we will go to Puerto del Chaco where we will board a boat to start the excursion to the Ballestas Islands, where We will appreciate the great diversity of marine fauna in the area such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guano birds among other species and we will also appreciate the Candelabra, the iconic image of the Paracas Reserve. After the visit we move to Ica to visit the "El Catador" Winery and the Huacachina Oasis, a favorite place for adventurers where extreme sports such as buggies and sanboard can be practiced, after which we will return to the city of Lima.

Price: $139

Min age: 0

Rating 4.78 / 5 [262 ratings]

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2 Day Tour from Lima: Paracas, Huacachina & Pisco Vineyard

Lima

2 Day Tour from Lima: Paracas, Huacachina & Pisco Vineyard
Wondering what to do in Lima, this is a 2-day tour from Lima visiting the Pacific beach town of Paracas as well as the desert oasis of Huacachina. Enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural environment to a thrilling desert adventure with a professional guide. For this tour the pick up from your Lima hotel or hostel is included, as well as drop off. This tour is good for couples, good for solo travelers and good for big groups. The perfect 2-days escape from the city of Lima!

Price: $149

Min age: 0

Rating 4.76 / 5 [135 ratings]

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Full day in Paracas Ica and Huacachina from Lima (From Lima)

Lima

Full day in Paracas Ica and Huacachina from Lima (From Lima)
Live a day full of Magic, adventure and adrenaline south of Lima, we will know the park of the most important sea lions reserve in South America, we will also visit the Huacachina Oasis and practice adventure sports and learn about the flagship drink of Peru , the "Pisco Sour".

Price: $150

Min age: 0

Rating 4.93 / 5 [146 ratings]

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PARACAS - ICA - HUACACHINA - The unique oasis of Ámerica

Lima

PARACAS - ICA - HUACACHINA - The unique oasis of Ámerica
• Let´s start at your hotel 5:00 am in the morning • Like Galapagos island Paracas is a natural reserve surrounded with wild life animals (dolphins - penguins, yes penguins in hot wather - sea lions - typical birds). • Enjoy the Tradiditional breakfast in Paracas port. • Let´s see the unique oasis in Ámerica, in the middle of the desert let´s have fun, riding buggies and practicing sundboarding in the dunes. just amazing !!! • Wine and Pisco are waiting for us, let´s taste and know a little more how they make it. • Be part of the culture and be part of the food, our lunch will be a typic meal from Ica. • After all our photos and great aventures,we are going to back to Lima. • Let´s arrive between 8pm or 9 pm  • All your experience is included in the price, just relax and enjoy !! • The tour is 14 hours approximately. BY THE WAY THE 10 % OF YOUR MONEY, OF ANY TOUR THAT YOU TAKE WITH US, GO ES TO HELP TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES IN LIMA - HUAYCAN.

Price: $219

Min age: 2

Rating 4.95 / 5 [22 ratings]

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Peru

Peru

Peru

A land of spectacular deserts, high mountains and rainforests that teem with wildlife, Peru is also home to an array of dramatically situated pre-Colombian ruins, including Machu Picchu.