Paracas National Reserve
Paracas, Ica Region, Peru[6.5 miles]
A 335,000-hectare reserve of wild desert dropping to blood-red cliffs, superb surf beaches, islands and bays crammed with wildlife.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Best places to stay:
Paracas city has lots of anonymous, package-holiday beach hotels catering to vacationing Peruvians. This large, family-friendly oceanside resort in palm-tree shaded gardens, with two big pools, is one of the few exceptions. The main building is a striking neo-art deco pavilion in concrete and glass, set in palm-tree-dotted lawns overlooking the beach.
Big, bright contemporary bedrooms open onto sea views or the large garden area with sizeable outdoor pool and sundeck, littered with wooden sun loungers and shady sitting areas.
The spa boasts a huge indoor pool and steam rooms, and specialises in Ayurvedic therapies, with an excellent choice of couple’s treatments. Of the four restaurants, the modern-Peruvian Ballestas comes with wonderful sunset views, while the alfresco seafood Chalana is set on a pier right over the water.
Visitors are mostly here for the tours and the hotel has an in-house tour operator offering high-end boat trips to the San Blas Islands (boats leave out front), the Paracas desert and National Reserve and the Nazca lines.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Paracas, Ica Region, Peru[6.5 miles]
A 335,000-hectare reserve of wild desert dropping to blood-red cliffs, superb surf beaches, islands and bays crammed with wildlife.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Paracas, Ica Region, Peru[19.4 miles]
This archipelago of rocky islands off Paracas is a haven for rare sea birds, Humboldt penguins, sealions and fur seals. Daily boat tours operate from hotels in the Paracas Reserve.
Best for ages: 5+ | £2
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
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.