Cruise into Paracas Bay to see the mysterious Candelabra, then circle the wildlife-packed Ballestas Islands where sea lions bask and Humboldt penguins dart through the surf. Compare every Ballestas Islands tour and book with free cancellation.
Updated 2026-06-22
Quick answer
A Ballestas Islands tour is a 2-hour boat trip from the Paracas pier in southern Peru, costing $18 to $20 on its own. Boats slow at the Candelabra geoglyph carved into the bay's hillside, then circle the islands, where sea lions haul out on the rocks and Humboldt penguins sit among thousands of seabirds. Nobody steps ashore: the islands are a protected reserve, so everything is seen from the boat.
Key takeaways
Most Booked — 921 Reviews, 4.7★ Featured: Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour from Paracas
Cruise into Paracas Bay aboard an eco-friendly speedboat to see the mysterious Paracas Candelabra and the wildlife-packed Ballestas Islands. Spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and thousands of guano birds with a knowledgeable bilingual guide.
Pick your date and time below to see real-time availability for the morning Ballestas Islands boat tour from Paracas. Reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
From a quick two-hour speedboat trip to a full day combining the islands, the Paracas National Reserve and the Huacachina dunes, here is every way to explore the Ballestas Islands. Compare prices, ratings and duration, then book the tour that fits your trip.
from $20Most Booked — 921 Reviews, 4.7★ 
from $18Best Value — All Inclusive 
from $40Top Rated — 292 Reviews, 4.7★ 
from $65Top Rated — 377 Reviews, 4.8★ 
from $37Hotel Pickup Included 
from $90Adventure Day — Islands + Dunes | Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Reviews | Duration | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islands, Reserve & Huacachina Full Day | $90 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 1 | 11.5 hours | Boat + reserve + sandboarding |
| Ballestas + National Reserve Combo | $65 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 377 | 5 hours | Boat + reserve + pickup |
| Ballestas + Reserve in One Day | $40 | 4.7 ★ | Check | 292 | 6 hours | Boat + reserve + swim stop |
| Ballestas + Reserve with Red Beach | $37 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 1 | Full day | Boat + reserve + tickets |
| Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour | $20 | 4.7 ★ | Check | 921 | 2 hours | Boat tour + guide |
| Ballestas Islands All-Inclusive Boat | $18 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 187 | 2 hours | Boat + pickup + audio guide |
Every Ballestas Islands boat tour follows the same rough shape. You meet your bilingual guide at the Paracas pier, board an eco-friendly speedboat, and head out across Paracas Bay. Within minutes the boat slows beside the Paracas Candelabra, then continues to the islands themselves, often called the 'Peruvian Galápagos'.
There is no landing — the Ballestas Islands are a protected marine sanctuary, so you view the wildlife from the boat as it weaves between the rock arches and caves. The classic trip lasts about two hours and is the cheapest, fastest way to see the sea lions, penguins and seabirds.
On the way out to the islands, every boat pauses at the Paracas Candelabra — a 120-metre geoglyph etched into the side of the peninsula. Nobody knows for certain who made it or why; theories range from a Paracas-culture ritual symbol to a navigational marker for sailors.
Because it faces the bay, the Candelabra is only really visible from the water, which is part of what makes the boat tour worthwhile even on the shortest itinerary.
The two-hour boat tour is perfect if you are short on time or catching an afternoon bus. If you have a full day, combining the islands with the Paracas National Reserve — or even the Huacachina dunes — turns a quick stop into the highlight of your trip.
| What matters | 2-hour boat tour | Full-day combo |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Limited time, lowest price | Seeing everything in one day |
| You'll see | Candelabra, islands, wildlife | Islands + desert, cliffs, red beach |
| Typical price | $18 – $20 | $40 – $90 |
| Time needed | About 2 hours | 5 – 11.5 hours |
A standalone Ballestas Islands tour price starts around $18–$20 per person for the morning boat trip. Adding the Paracas National Reserve brings it to roughly $37–$65, and the big full-day adventure with Huacachina sandboarding runs about $90.
The Paracas National Reserve is a vast coastal desert that meets the Pacific in dramatic cliffs, fossil beds and coloured beaches. A combo tour takes you to viewpoints like Mirador Catedral and Mirador Istmo, the famous red sand of Playa Roja, and the fishing cove of Lagunillas, where you can stop for lunch.
Pairing the reserve with the morning boat tour is the single best way to understand Paracas — you get the marine life of the islands and the stark desert landscape in one day.
Most travelers reach Paracas by bus. From Lima it is a comfortable 3.5–4 hour ride south; from Ica or the Huacachina oasis it is under an hour. Morning boat tours to the Ballestas Islands typically depart between 8:00 and 10:00 am, so an overnight in Paracas — or an early bus — makes the timing easy.
The open speedboat is breezy and the Humboldt Current keeps the water cool, so a windproof layer makes the ride far more comfortable. Mornings are calmest; by afternoon the swell picks up and trips are occasionally cancelled for safety.
Boat tours to the Ballestas Islands run every day of the year, and the wildlife is resident year-round. This chart shows average daytime air temperatures in Paracas so you can plan the most comfortable time to sail.
Temperatures shown in °F for Paracas. The sea stays cool all year thanks to the Humboldt Current; always take morning departures for the calmest water and best wildlife viewing.
The Ballestas Islands are a protected marine sanctuary nicknamed the 'Peruvian Galapagos' — a maze of rock formations, sea arches and caves. Here is the wildlife travelers most often spot from the boat.
The Ballestas Islands are a protected reserve — boats keep a respectful distance and there are no landings, so the wildlife stays wild and undisturbed.
What a brilliant morning on the islands boat tour. Despite a rough sea we still reached the smaller islands and saw so much wildlife — it really did not disappoint. Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly.
Best value for money option available! The guide was great and we learned so much. We saw dolphins, sea lions, Humboldt penguins and loads of other flora and fauna. 10/10.
The boat trip in the morning around the islands was great — dolphins, penguins, pelicans, sea lions and the Candelabra. In the afternoon our guide took us through the national reserve with spectacular desert scenery. Worth doing both.
Incredibly lucky to have a multilingual guide who explained everything from the wildlife to the geology. Penguins, sea lions, dolphins and a huge array of birds, then the breathtaking desert reserve. A truly perfect day.
We only list certified Paracas operators with safe, well-maintained speedboats and proper life vests.
Compare every Ballestas Islands tour side by side and book with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Tours are led by local guides who know exactly where the sea lions, penguins and dolphins appear.
Every rating comes from travelers who actually sailed — more than 1,700 verified reviews and counting.
Boats leave the Paracas pier in the morning only, so the town is where you want to wake up.
We have not stayed at these hotels. Guest scores, review counts and nightly rates are what Expedia listed for a midweek night in September 2026, checked on 1 August 2026.
Prefer to compare on your own? browse every hotel in Paracas on Expedia.
A morning boat tour starts around $18–$20 per person, while combos that add the Paracas National Reserve run $37–$65, and the full-day islands-plus-Huacachina adventure is about $90. The cheapest is the all-inclusive boat tour; compare every Ballestas Islands tour and price here.
Expect thousands of South American sea lions, endangered Humboldt penguins, guano birds, Peruvian boobies and pelicans, plus the occasional pod of dolphins on the crossing. See the full wildlife guide and the featured boat tour.
The classic boat tour from Paracas lasts about two hours round-trip. Day tours that add the Paracas National Reserve take 5–6 hours, and the islands-plus-Huacachina option runs about 11.5 hours. Read the full Ballestas Islands boat tour review or browse all tours by length.
Yes — combo tours pair the morning boat trip with an afternoon in the reserve, visiting Playa Roja, Lagunillas and the cliff viewpoints. See our Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve day trip guide, the most popular way to do both.
Tours run year-round, but mornings have the calmest seas and the best wildlife viewing. The warm, sunny season runs December to March. For the biggest adventure day, see the Paracas, Ballestas and Huacachina day trip, or browse all tours.
No. The islands are a strictly protected marine sanctuary, so all viewing is from the boat as it weaves between the rocks and arches. This keeps the sea lions, penguins and seabirds undisturbed.
Paracas is a 3.5–4 hour bus ride south of Lima, or under an hour from Ica and Huacachina. Boats leave from the El Chaco pier in Paracas — see directions on our contact page.
Stay in Paracas town rather than Pisco or Ica: every boat leaves from the Paracas pier and the departures are all in the morning, before the afternoon wind. Expedia guests rate the town's hotels 8.0/10 and better, with rooms from around $45 a night and resorts on the bay from $184. See three of the best-reviewed in where to stay in Paracas.