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BALLESTAS ISLANDS

TRAVEL GUIDE

Ballestas Islands: Below is our extensive 2024 guide about the Ballestas Islands in Paracas containing information on everything from how to get there, itineraries, prices to FAQs.

Overview

  • The Ballestas Islands are rocky islands located off the Pacific coast of Peru, a 15 minute boat journey from the town of Paracas, 3-4 hours south of Lima.
  • Also known as “The Poor Man´s Galapagos”, the islands are an absolute must-see for all wildlife lovers, as they’re home to thousands of birds and mammals including penguins, Inca terns, pelicans, sea lions and dolphins.
  • The islands, locally known as Las Islas Ballestas, are protected, meaning you cannot swim with the animals or walk on the islands themselves, but you can get very close to them on a boat tour.

How to get to Ballestas Islands

Located off the coast of the small coastal town of Paracas, the only way to get to the islands is to take a speedboat tour from Paracas. We’ve included a 2 hour boat tour in our Day Trip from Lima.

  • The Islands are home to the endangered Humboldt penguin.
  • The breeding season for sea lions is between January and March. If you are lucky enough to happen to be travelling during this time of the year, you will see the beaches full of sea lion cubs and huge rival males defending their mating territories.
  • While going out to the Islands, you will be able to see “The Candelabro”, a huge geoglyph in the form of a candlestick (or cactus?) found on the Paracas peninsula’s northern face. For hundreds of years, sailors used this as a coastal reference point.
  • If you take the Escape From Lima bus at 06.00am from Lima, you have time to do the 10.00am tour of the Ballestas Islands and continue on to Huacachina the same day.
  • Humpback Whales tend to be found in these waters between August and October as they move north for mating season.

  • Camera
  • Summer clothes and a light jacket cause it gets windy
  • Hat or cap
  • Sun block

Paracas highlights

Frequently asked questions

The islands are protected, meaning you cannot swim with the animals or walk on the islands themselves, but you will get very close to them by boat. A unique experience for those that will not make it to the Galapagos.

No, we meet at Frayles Residencial Hotel. Paracas is a tiny village, just a couple of hundred meters long and Frayles Residencial Hotel is very centrally located.