Islas Ballestas
Twenty kilometres off the Paracas coast, three small islands hold more wildlife per square metre than almost anywhere else on Peru's Pacific shore. Peruvian boobies stack the cliff ledges in their thousands, Humboldt penguins shuffle along lower rocks, and sea lions haul out so close to the passing boats that you can hear them bark over the engine noise.
The boats leave El Chaco pier at eight in the morning and the circuit runs about two hours — long enough to pass El Candelabro, the 170-metre geoglyph carved into the Paracas Peninsula, before the islands themselves fill the frame.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done the trip more than once all say the same thing: take the eight o'clock departure, not the ten. The seas are flatter, the light is better for photos, and you get back before the afternoon wind turns the bay choppy. Bring a layer you don't mind getting damp — the spray on the open boat is real.
The story behind Islas Ballestas
Guano brought the islands their first human significance. The Moche left archaeological traces here, and the Incas were already extracting the bird droppings as fertiliser by the time Spanish colonisers arrived. Inside later guano deposits, a coat of arms was found in 1847 — featuring a guanay bird and an image of the islands themselves — a small, strange record of how completely the place was defined by its birds.
Organised tourism to the islands began quietly in the 1960s. A decade later, in 1975, Peru established the Paracas National Reserve, formalising the protection of the marine ecosystem and the pre-Inca Paracas culture whose traces survive along this stretch of coast. The fixed boat circuits and landing restrictions that shape every visit today are a direct result of that designation.
Good to know
Boats leave El Chaco pier at 08:00 and 10:00 daily; budget roughly S/56–77 per person (boat fare plus dock taxes payable in cash on site). You cannot land or swim — all viewing is from the boat. June through August offers the calmest seas and most active wildlife.
June through August is the sweet spot: seas run calm, skies stay clear, and the penguins are at their most visible during the Southern Hemisphere winter. The trade-off is afternoon wind, which is strong enough to make the return crossing rough — another reason to take the early boat. December through March is warmer but brings choppier water and occasional haze.
Where is Islas Ballestas?
More tickets & tours for Islas Ballestas
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Islas Ballestas
plenty of wildlife which the boats get fairly close to; not for anyone who gets very sea sick
The islands are worth the trip on a touristy boat with strangers. If you love birds, penguins, and sea lions it's worth the trip. If you don't love these you probably shouldn't go as there isn't anything else like a cool boat ride or whatever to make it worthwhile.
Nice tour to see some sea lions, penguins and a lot of birds! You might get a bit wet! Must do if you’re visiting Paracas/Ica.
Fantastic experience! Took a boat and circled the island. Many birds and sea lions and I think I saw one penguin.
Worth it. My only regret is not getting a private tour. Would have been great to spend more time around the island. The group tours are relatively quick. Saw a handful of penguins, sea lions, and plenty of birds. Saw dolphins on the way there too.
More of Peru
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Peru →More attractions in Peru
All of Peru →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.