Highlight
Ballestas Islands boat tour
Speedboat to rocky islands crowded with sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds.
Typical duration
120 min
Price
About S/60–75 incl. port fee and reserve ticket (≈ €15–19 / $16–20)
From port
18.2 km / 11.3 mi
Transfer time
25 min
Indoor / Outdoor
outdoor
Queue risk
medium
🕐 Best time to visit
First morning departures (around 8–10am), before the wind rises
The classic Paracas outing: a two-hour speedboat trip from the El Chaco pier to the Islas Ballestas. Boats slow down beside guano-covered arches and cliffs alive with boobies, cormorants, pelicans and Humboldt penguins, while sea lions sprawl on the rocks. You can't land, and the sea can be lively, so sit low and bring a windproof layer and a hat. Trips are cancelled when the sea is too rough.
Getting there from the port
Ship's shuttle, pre-booked transfer or taxi to the El Chaco pier in Paracas (25–30 minutes).