About Activity
Embark on a Day of Discovery: Ballestas Islands & Paracas Reserve
Unveil the beauty of Peru's coastal treasures with our Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve adventure. Explore pristine beaches, witness diverse marine life, and soak in breathtaking landscapes. An unforgettable journey awaits!
Includes
- Spanish/English guide
- Speed boat to visit Islas Ballestas
Excludes
- Tourist Taxes to the Ministry of the Environment
- National park entrance ticket
- Food
Stop At: Las Islas Ballestas Admission Ticket:
Tickets are not included We pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the new tourist dock in Paracas.
• We will board the glider to begin the almost two-hour excursion to the Ballestas Islands. These beautiful islands serve as home to thousands of migratory birds, who share their habitat with colonies of restless sea lions. We will also observe a diversity of marine fauna, such as Humboldt penguins.
We return to the dock, you have free time to walk around the bay, take photos, buy crafts or breakfast.
Stop At: Paracas National Reserve Admission Ticket:
Tickets are not included • After, we will take the tour to the Paracas National Reserve, which is the largest natural sanctuary on the Peruvian coast. As a first point we will visit the RNP interpretation center. Then we will head towards the natural rock formation known as THE CATHEDRAL, due to the whimsical shape it has and the spectacular panoramic view.
We continue with the panoramic visit to the Red and Yumaque beaches. There will be a short walk to the Flamencos viewpoint and the Fusilera Zone where we will observe migratory birds, marine fossils, tirítelas and more. Finally, we will move to Lagunillas Beach where you have the option of lunch and swimming (optional).
Finally, we will return to the hotel at approximately 3:00 PM.
Public transportation options are available nearby Suitable for all physical fitness levels In case the sea is too rough, we will not take any risks and will go to a more accessible island: Islas Blanca, very similar to Islas Palomino. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
The tour is divided into...Cecilia_N
The tour is divided into two parts. The first part is a boat trip that lasts about two hours. It was really nice, we saw dolphins, sea lions, and penguins.
The second part is a visit to the Paracas National Reserve, which lasts about four hours. The visit is amazing and our guide explained to us everything also in English. Anyway the tour is more expensive compared to what you can pay on site. The entrance fees and lunch are not included (they take you to a restaurant).
In my opinion, especially for the first part of the tour, it makes more sense to book it directly there.
Not as advertised - book directly the local tourstobiashaab
We were quite disappointed by the first half of the tour. Instead of a 2 h boat tour with group size of max. 24, we were on a boat with ca. 50 people and were back at the port after 1 h 15 min. This meant that we only got to spend 15 min looking at the Ballestas islands. Also the boat faced the islands on only the left side for most of this time so we hardly got to see anything. There were a couple of penguins though.
The second half of the tour was a lot better. We explored the Reserve and did all of the advertised spots except for the interpretation center. We got to see many vultures and pelicans, which was nice. Our guide during this half did a good job.
Izi Peru Travel furthermore provided incorrect information regarding the entrance ticket which had to be purchased and the harbor fee. They also don’t do any of the tours directly but place you on different local tours. It felt quite strange being picked up (on foot) from the hotel by someone only to be passed on to various different guided within a few minutes until the tour started.
I would suggest that you book these tours directly through the local vendors who actually carry them out.
Good, but you can set it up on your own Jessica_H
Tour is fun. The boat ride itself was about 2 hours total, then you get an hour in Paracas, then you head to the reserve. It’s a bit odd because this tour is a company that books with other companies for both parts, so it’s not like normal when you’re with the same guide all day. You can do both sections on your own for much cheaper, we found this out after the fact and probably would have done that because you have to pay entrance fees to both parks anyway. The guides we got for both sections were great, but all in all a bit weird of a set up.
A Great Day In ParacasTyler F
Feb 14, 2026, 11:54:58 PM This tour was fantastic. The boat tour was beautiful, and the tour through the reserve was also amazing. I'd recommend this tour to really see the beauty of Paracas
Wow! What an incredible experience. The Islas Ballestas was a one of a kind experience. The Paracas tour was breathtaking. I would highly recommend!
Best day in paracas Austin_D
May 25, 2024, 11:52:54 AM The boat tour and the tour of the reserva was amazing. The lunch after at Che was yummy as well and I would recommend the ceviche and conchas de Parma
The tour was very well organized, interesting, the staff was nice and helpful, at the end they took us to the bus terminal, so we caught the line to Lima and on to the airport
Best day in Peru.Miranda_J
It's as one of our best day in Peru.
Landscape are amazing, the agency was so nice with us, the staff is so great.
And the boat tour, we saw even dolfin !
Well organized677mirandaj
Had a fantastic trip to Paracas IZI PERU. They were incredibly amazing and well organised. Everything was well planned and well organised. We even had opportunity to interact with locals
It is very worthwhileedilsonl653
Great experience, very polite guide and with good knowledge about the reserve and the animals that inhabit the area, comfortable boat, with mandatory life jackets, in short, nothing to complain about.
A memorable dayleticiassophia
Aug 17, 2026, 11:46:27 AM The tour I did to Paracas - Ica was wonderful. Comfortable bus, good guide and explanations. The boat ride was very good and the animals very amazing to be able to see them from so close. In addition, we were also able to observe the famous "candelabra". Definitely one of the most memorable days of my trip to Lima/Perú. I recommend.
Very courteous and...Massimo_R
Staff very courteous and well organized.
I appreciated the punctuality. Paracas Nature Reserve has exceeded my expectations
An unforgettable dayS285OGfranciscor
They recommended this tour and I was delighted, it is a perfect combination between desert and marine life.
Francisco Ramos
Good management to have a good time!Culture21325824140
Feb 28, 2025, 11:47:14 AM A well-managed adventure in Paracas
The tour to the Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve was an incredibly well-organized experience. From punctuality in pickup to enjoyment, everything went smoothly.
The sea was more roiling than expected during the visit to the Ballestas Islands. However, Izi’s team handled the situation with complete professionalism. They gave us clear instructions, conveyed security and made sure we all enjoyed ourselves without worry. Thanks to its preparation, what could have been an awkward moment became an exciting part of the tour, giving it an extra touch of adventure.
The Paracas Reserve was the perfect complement: stunning scenery, an informed guide and the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of its beaches. Definitely a tour I would recommend, not only for the beauty of the destination, but for the excellent management of the team in case of any unforeseen.
Thank you very much Nic!
Naturaleza espectacularDavid_G
Impacto paisajes y naturaleza. Organización de la actividad. Eliminaría tiempo previsto almuerzo en Reserva Paracas dadonque es a coste del turista y la oferta gastronómica no es buena
I was unable to take the tour by mistake of the operator and TripAdvisoralexfraga
Unfortunately my review is not about the tour, because I could not do it, but about the company and its conduct. And also about a platform failure.
When I made the Reservation for the tour, I still did not have the hotel chosen, so I selected this option. A few days later I made the reservation change with my hotel that appeared in the list of options within here on the TripAdvisor platform.
After this hotel change, Izi Peru confirmed the Reservation and I downloaded the vouchers to have on the trip.
The night before the tour, Izi Peru contacted me to match my withdrawal and it was at that moment that they informed me that they would not pick me up, because my hotel was in another city. I asked by saying that everything was in the Reservation, that I chose the hotel from the list provided and Izi Peru said that it was the platform's mistake and that they could not do anything about it. I asked again saying that the mistake was also of them for accepting the change of the Reservation with the hotel in another city, but they did not say anything about it.
As I was in another city and imagined that the tour would come out of there, I had to buy another tour with another company not to miss the opportunity.
A few days later I contacted Izi Peru again through the platform and also via whatsapp asking for a refund, because I did not make the tour. The same said again that the mistake was not theirs and that they would not make the refund. I tried contacting again and they stopped answering me.
I also tried to contact Tripadvisor/Viator, but the same has no service in Brazil, only has a number from the USA to call.
Tip 1: If you haven’t booked your hotel yet, don’t book any tours.
Tip 2: Only buy tours with free cancellation and refund policy inside the platform.
Tip 3: only buy tours with agencies with many reviews, because so the chance of error is much lower (it is not the case with Izi).
