General San Martín (Paracas) Cruise Port
Paracas, Peru · South America
Cruise ships dock at General San Martín cargo pier (cruise berth), Paracas.
Plan my port daysDocked berth in a cargo port at the tip of the Paracas peninsula. Paracas town and the Ballestas boats are 25–30 minutes away; Huacachina is about 1.5 hours.
At a glance
Port summary
Puerto General San Martín is a working cargo port run by Terminal Portuario Paracas (TPParacas) at Punta Pejerrey, on the Paracas peninsula. Ships dock alongside, but there is no passenger terminal and you can't walk out through the port, so you leave by ship's shuttle, tour coach or taxi. The big draw is the Ballestas Islands: a two-hour speedboat trip from the El Chaco pier in Paracas town to rocky islands crowded with sea lions, Humboldt penguins, boobies and cormorants, passing the giant Candelabro geoglyph on the way. Boats leave in the morning, when the sea is calmest. The Paracas National Reserve starts right next to the port, with its desert cliffs, the red sand of Playa Roja and the fishing cove of Lagunillas. Further inland, the Huacachina oasis near Ica is about 1.5 hours each way, with dune buggies, sandboarding and wine and pisco bodegas nearby. A Nazca Lines flight from Pisco airport is possible but takes most of the day and is expensive. It almost never rains, but the sun is fierce and the afternoon Paracas wind can whip up sand. Carry soles in cash.
Cruise dock
General San Martín cargo pier (cruise berth)
Cruise ships berth at the TPParacas pier at Punta Pejerrey. It's a working cargo port, so passengers leave by coach, shuttle or taxi from the quay.
Latitude: -13.802872, Longitude: -76.29065
See dock on port map →Getting to Paracas
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring soles in small notes for the Ballestas port fee, park tickets, taxis and snacks. US dollars are accepted in some tourist places, at poor rates.
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Inside the South America collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Paracas cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedBallestas Islands speedboat tour: sea lions, penguins and the Candelabro
≈ 4 h · sold by 2 cruise lines
Cruise line
€150$169
Do it yourself
€45$51
Save ≈ €105Save ≈ $118 (70% off)
You can't walk out of the cargo port: take the ship's shuttle to Paracas if offered, or a taxi from the quay to the El Chaco pier (25–30 min, about S/50–60 per car, agree first; only a few taxis come, so get off early). Boats leave from the Embarcadero Islas Ballestas in the morning; the boat is about S/60 and the port fee plus reserve tax another S/16, paid in cash. Have lunch on the El Chaco waterfront and keep your taxi driver's number for the return.
See the DIY plan →
Paracas National Reserve: Playa Roja, desert cliffs and pisco tasting
≈ 6 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€110$124
Do it yourself
€39$44
Save ≈ €71Save ≈ $80 (65% off)
Hire a taxi driver at the quay (or pre-book one) for about four hours, roughly S/40–50 an hour per car, agreed in advance. Drive to the reserve entrance (20 min), pay the entry fee (S/11–15) and visit the Julio C. Tello museum, then continue to the Playa Roja clifftop viewpoint and Lagunillas for a seafood lunch with a pisco sour. There is no public transport in the reserve, so keep the same driver all day.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
8 plansBallestas Islands & El Chaco
The classic Paracas morning: a speedboat to rocks crammed with sea lions and penguins, past the Candelabro, then lunch on the bay.
Paracas Reserve: Museum, Red Beach & La Catedral
The desert peninsula by hired driver: the Paracas culture museum, the red sand of Playa Roja, the wild cliffs of La Catedral and fish at Lagunillas.
Ballestas & the Reserve's Quiet Beaches
Sea lions in the morning, then a slow afternoon on Paracas's calmest beaches: long empty Yumaque and the sheltered cove at La Mina.
Free Paracas: Pier Pelicans & a Bay Walk
A no-cost morning on the El Chaco waterfront: pelicans at the pier, the boat bustle, a sandy bay walk and people-watching.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Paracas?
- Your ship docks directly at the Paracas cruise terminal in Peru.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Paracas?
- Walking into Paracas from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Paracas centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Taxi, Other transport. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Paracas?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Paracas independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Paracas and are cards accepted?
- Paracas uses the Peruvian sol. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Paracas cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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