The Best Ballestas Island Tours: How To Visit & The Top Choices!

Last Updated: January 13 2024

If you’re planning a trip to Peru and you’re looking for the best Ballestas Island tours, you’ve come to the right place!

We visited the Ballestas Islands on a recent trip to Peru and it quickly became one of our favourite places, so much so, that we wanted to put together a guide for you. We’ll cover everything from where the island is and how to get there, to the best tours and things you can see!

A Ballestas Island tour allows you to witness some of the best marine life and birdlife in South America, so you’d be crazy not to add these islands to your Peru itinerary.

Let’s start by telling you where the Ballestas Islands are located!

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Where are the Ballestas Islands?

The Ballestas Islands are a small group of islands found off the Peruvian coast, near the town of Paracas, the Paracas Peninsula, and Paracas National Reserve in South Peru. One of the great things about these islands is how accessible they are!

Paracas is only a 3.5-hour drive from Lima – the capital city of Peru, and from the town, the journey to the islands takes approximately 1 hour by boat.

The Ballestas Islands are also easily reached from other popular places in Peru like Ica and Pisco. Pisco is just a 30-minute drive from Paracas and Ica is under a 1.5-hour drive away.

Both Pisco and Ica have convenient bus transport routes to Paracas, as does Lima. All you have to do then is jump on a Ballestas Island tour!

The Best Ballestas Islands Tours From Paracas

When it comes to Ballestas Islands tours, there are a couple of options:

• Group Boat Tours – These tend to be the most affordable, as you’ll be sharing the boat with lots of other tourists. Although crowded, group tours are the best option for budget travellers!

• Private Boat Tours – Private tours are much more pricey but are perfect for those who are looking for a more intimate experience. You’ll also have more flexibility.

• Combination Tours – If you’re looking to see more of Peru, then opt for a combination tour. These can include a visit to Huacachina, Paracas National Reserve, the Nazca Lines, and Ica.

The Top Ballestas Island Tours

1. Our Top Pick – From Paracas: Scenic Boat Tour to Ballestas Island

⏰ Tour Length: 2 Hours

⭐ Rating: 4.4/5

💰 Cost: $

This scenic boat tour is our top pick as it’s the one we chose! During our Peru trip, we were looking for an affordable Ballestas Island tour, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.

With hotel pick-up and drop-off included, this tour offers convenience and you’ll have a bilingual guide on your boat tour. On the way to the Ballestas Islands, you’ll also get to see the Candelabro, which is a prehistoric geoglyph etched into the hillside.

Then, you’ll continue onward to the islands where you’ll get to see a variety of marine life. If you’re lucky, you may spot penguins, sea lions, seals, and plenty of birdlife.

2. Paracas: Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour

⏰ Tour Length: 2 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.4/5

💰 Cost: $

This Ballestas Island tour is also two hours long, but it’s worth noting that it doesn’t include hotel pick-up or drop-off. However, the tourist taxes you would usually have to pay at the marina are included.

As far as affordable Ballestas Island Tours go, this one is fantastic, offering you an excellent opportunity to spot wildlife for less than £20 (92 Peruvian Sol) per person.

Setting off in the morning, you’ll leave the marina and head to the Candelabro, where your tour guide will tell you all about its unique history and mystery. From there, the boat sails to the islands, where you’ll spend approximately an hour observing the wildlife, before heading back.

3. From Paracas: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

⏰ Tour Length: 5 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.7/5

💰 Cost: $$

The next tour visits Ballestas Islands National Reserve and Paracas National Reserve.

Pick-up from Pisco or Paracas is available and the tour leaves from Marina Turistica. You’ll then travel to the islands on a speedboat with a bilingual tour guide.

You can expect to stop at the Paracas Peninsula to see the Candelabro, before continuing your journey to the islands. After exploring the islands, the tour returns to the marina for a drive around Paracas National Reserve.

In the reserve, this tour explores the sprawling desert and enormous sandstone cliffs. You’ll visit the Cathedral rock formations, Playa Roja, and Lagunillas Beach, amongst other famous locations!

4. Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas

⏰ Tour Length: 2 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

💰 Cost: $

This is one of the best Ballestas Island tours for anyone travelling through Peru on a tight budget, so be sure to check it out. We love this tour because it offers a simple and hassle-free experience.

The tour will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and take you to Islas Ballestas with a bilingual tour guide that can speak Spanish and English. Ballestas Islands animals you can expect to see include Humboldt penguins, fur seals, cormorants, pelicans, and the Peruvian Booby.

Like most Isla Ballestas tours, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Candelabro and some of the natural caves in Paracas National Reserve!

The Best Ballestas Islands Tours From Lima

5. Full Day from Lima: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

⏰ Tour Length: 18 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

💰 Cost: $$$

This Ballestas Island boat tour is perfect for anyone who wants to visit the Ballestas Islands on a day trip from Lima, which is a great option if you don’t want to stay in Paracas.

The tour lasts 18 hours because it includes a six-hour round trip from Lima in an air-conditioned private vehicle, a two-hour boat trip to the islands, and a tour of Paracas National Reserve. The guide will tell you all about Peruvian nature and local culture, and you’ll be given the opportunity to have any questions answered.

Food and drinks aren’t included, but you’ll have an hour to grab some lunch in Paracas.

6. Huacachina Oasis & Mini-Galapagos Tour

⏰ Tour Length: 18 hours

⭐ Rating: 5/5

💰 Cost: $$$

What we love most about this Islas Ballestas boat tour is how it visits two of the most popular places in Peru on a day trip from Lima, which we must say, is quite impressive. First, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Lima and taken to Paracas for a two-hour boat tour.

You can expect to see a host of Ballestas Island animals and learn about the importance of this place. After, you’ll make the 1.5-hour journey to Huacachina on a luxury bus.

You’ll then have plenty of time to grab something to eat and explore the oasis before riding a dune buggy and sandboarding down the dunes!

7. Full-Day Paracas Ica and Huacachina Tour from Lima

⏰ Tour Length: 16 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

💰 Cost: $$$

This is another one of the Ballestas Island tours that makes its way to Paracas from Lima. Where this tour differs is that it also includes a visit to Ica and one of the most popular wineries in the region.

First, you’ll enjoy a two-hour boat tour of the islands, where you’ll have the chance to see and learn all about the marine life in and around Paracas. After that, you’ll be taken to El Catador winery in the city of Ica!

Here, you’ll sample Pisco and have lunch, which is included. The tour finishes with sandboarding and dune buggy riding in Huacachina before you return to Lima.

8. From Lima: Full-Day Paracas and Huacachina Bus Tour

⏰ Tour Length: 18 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.8/5

💰 Cost: $$$

The next tour on our list of Ballestas Island tours explores multiple islands for two hours before taking you to Huacachina for a variety of different activities.

This tour again leaves from Lima, and pick-up and drop-off are included. Most of the day does consist of travelling, but you’ll still have an epic time!

One great thing about this tour is that you’ll stop in Paracas for 1.5 hours before heading to Huacachina. This will give you enough time to grab some food, buy some souvenirs from the market, and walk along the seafront.

In Huacachina, you’ll have an hour of free time to explore the oasis.

9. Paracas, Ica and Huacachina Tour with Buggies and Sandboarding From Lima

⏰ Tour Length: 17 hours

⭐ Rating: 5/5

💰 Cost: $$$

This Isla Ballestas tour is ideal if you love nature and adventure sports, as you’ll be treated to a two-hour tour of the islands, along with sandboarding and dune buggy riding in Huacachina. Oh, and we should also mention that this tour stops off at a winery in Ica for some Pisco.

You’ll be picked up in Lima and taken to Paracas Marina for a boat tour. After seeing penguins, sea lions, seals, and birds (hopefully), you’ll visit the El Catador winery to learn about Pisco.

The tour will finish with a visit to Huacachina, where you’ll sandboard and ride a dune buggy before driving back to Lima!

10. From Lima: Ballestas, Nazca Lines, & Huacachina Oasis

⏰ Tour Length: 17 hours

⭐ Rating: 4.9/5

💰 Cost: $$$

This is by far the most expensive Ballestas Islands boat tour on our list, but that’s only because it includes an incredible flight over the Nazca Lines. There are more than 300 Nazca Line geoglyphs in the Peruvian desert, covering almost 1,000 square kilometres, so they shouldn’t be missed.

This tour visits the Ballestas Islands first on a two-hour boat tour, led by a professional bilingual guide. You’ll then drive to Pisco Airport to start your flight, which lasts just under two hours.

The tour then visits the Huacachina oasis, where you can try sandboarding or grab a cocktail from one of the rooftop bars!

How to get to the Ballestas Islands

Getting to the Ballestas Islands is incredibly easy. You can even do it on a day trip from Lima or Ica.

To get to the Ballestas Islands, head to Paracas, which as we mentioned earlier is just a 3.5-hour bus ride from Lima. We booked our bus tickets with Busbud.

We decided to stay in Paracas so we could see the seaside town too. From here, all you have to do is book a boat tour!

You can easily book a tour to the Ballestas Islands on Get Your Guide or at the harbour in town. You can book tours that leave early in the morning or in the afternoon, so pick a time that suits your plans best!

Then, at the time of your tour, head to the harbour or wait for your tour guide to pick you up, and enjoy the islands.

Tips for Going on a Ballestas Island Tour

As well as visiting the iconic Machu Picchu and staying at Chunco Lodge in the Amazon Rainforest, going on a Ballestas Island tour was one of our best experiences in Peru!

Here are some of our top tips to ensure you have a fantastic experience:

• The boat tours don’t run every day, it all depends on the weather. If the weather isn’t favourable (strong winds especially), then the tours may be cancelled so just keep this in mind.

• There are a variety of tours to choose from so make sure you do your research. Although we’ve brought together the most popular options, you’ll want to pick the one most suited to you!

• You’ll get to see a variety of wildlife while exploring the Ballestas Islands. As such, we’d recommend purchasing a zoom lens before your visit, as this will ensure you can get some fantastic shots!

• The majority of tours will include a guide, who will tell you all about the local area and its wildlife. In our opinion, this is one of the best things about these tours.

• Depending on how choppy the conditions are, you can sometimes find yourself getting wet thanks to the spray of the waves. As such, we’d recommend wearing a lightweight waterproof.

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting the Ballestas Islands

Are the Ballestas Islands worth visiting?

Yes, the Ballestas Islands are definitely worth visiting, especially if you love anything to do with wildlife. Peru has a staggering range of wildlife hotspots and the Ballestas Islands are up there with the best.

During a visit to the islands, you can expect to see Humboldt Penguins, sea lions, fur seals, pelicans, and so much more, which is just awesome!

How long are the Ballestas Island tours?

Most tours to the Ballestas Islands last approximately two hours, however, that can change depending on the weather.

Some tours might also last a little longer if the tour company takes you to the Paracas Candelabro first. Our tour lasted two hours and we saw the Candelabro and the islands.

What budget do you need for the Ballestas Islands?

How much you spend visiting the Ballestas Islands will depend on the type of tour you’re looking for.

If you simply want to visit the islands, you can easily do it for as little as £20 per person. However, if you want to visit the islands as part of a larger tour, you might end up spending upwards of £100 per person.

Can you swim in the Ballestas Islands?

No, you can’t swim in the Ballestas Islands. The main reason is that the islands are protected so people aren’t permitted to swim in the water.

As a result, no Ballestas Island tours offer tourists the opportunity to do so. In fact, you can’t even walk on the islands but don’t worry, that won’t impact your experience.

Final Thoughts on the Ballestas Islands

The Ballestas Islands are an iconic Peruvian landmark and are not to be missed! Whether you’re an animal lover or you’re simply looking to appreciate the landscapes, there’s something for everyone.

For the best experience, we recommend staying in Paracas for a couple of days. The boat trips are sometimes cancelled due to bad weather, and this way, you can ensure you get on one!

Although we’ve brought together the best options, you should always ensure that you check the reviews of each tour first. Make sure you check what’s included too, so you can make sure it’s suitable for you.

If you have any questions about these Isla Ballestas tours, please contact us via Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!

Here are some other guides that you may find helpful:

• Visiting Tambopata National Reserve: What You Need To Know!
• The Best Day Trips From Cusco
• Fun Things To Do In Cusco, Peru

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