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Ballestas Islands: Wildlife and Desert Adventure
4.9
581 Ratings
Lima
Escape the city and explore the wonders of the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve on this full-day tour from Lima. Perfect for couples, solo travelers, and big groups.
Escape the city and explore the wonders of the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve on this full-day tour from Lima. Perfect for couples, solo travelers, and big groups.
Duration:
18 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Miraflores - Begin your journey with an early hotel pickup in Lima and unwind on a luxurious, air-conditioned coach featuring reclining semi-bed seats, Wi-Fi, and a restroom. A welcoming Peruvian Host will share stories and tips as you travel along the coast to Paracas, a tranquil fishing village by the Pacific.
- Islas Ballestas - Embark on a…
- Miraflores - Begin your journey with an early hotel pickup in Lima and unwind on a luxurious, air-conditioned coach featuring reclining semi-bed seats, Wi-Fi, and a restroom. A welcoming Peruvian Host will share stories and tips as you travel along the coast to Paracas, a tranquil fishing village by the Pacific.
- Islas Ballestas - Embark on a speedboat for an exhilarating wildlife tour of the Ballestas Islands, often referred to as the “mini-Galapagos.” Enjoy a 2-hour boat tour from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, passing by towering rock formations and the ancient Candelabra geoglyph. Spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and a vibrant array of seabirds in their natural environment. With some luck, you might even see dolphins frolicking in the waves!
- Paracas - From 12:00 pm to 02:00 pm, take a relaxing break to explore Paracas’ delightful boardwalk, browse seaside markets, or savor a fresh seafood lunch with an ocean view. Our team will suggest the best local spots for ceviche or the grilled catch of the day.
- Paracas National Reserve - Enjoy a guided bus tour of one of South America’s largest protected desert reserves, where the stunning Pacific coastline meets the desert.
- Hacienda San José - Depart Paracas for Hacienda San Jose, where you’ll experience an exclusive guided tour of the underground secret tunnels. Once used for smuggling slaves, these tunnels lie beneath the hacienda, offering insights into a darker chapter of Peruvian history.
- Lima - Return from Chincha to Lima, arriving around 11:00 PM. You’ll be dropped off directly at your hotel or hostel in Miraflores, San Isidro, or Barranco. (Note: drop-offs in Downtown Lima or at the airport may arrive slightly later.)
What's Included
- Secret Slave Tunnels, Hacienda San Jose
- 2-hour boat tour to the Ballestas Island
- Luxury Buses for the long journey
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Bilingual Guide
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel
- Paracas National Reserve Tour
- Secret Slave Tunnels, Hacienda San Jose
- 2-hour boat tour to the Ballestas Island
- Luxury Buses for the long journey
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Bilingual Guide
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel
- Paracas National Reserve Tour
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
Explore Peru’s “mini Galapagos,” stunning desert landscapes, and the rich Afro-Peruvian heritage—all in a single, memorable day trip from Lima.
Begin your adventure early with a picturesque journey to Paracas, where a high-speed boat will whisk you away to the Ballestas Islands, teeming with sea lions, penguins, and striking rock formations. Following…
Explore Peru’s “mini Galapagos,” stunning desert landscapes, and the rich Afro-Peruvian heritage—all in a single, memorable day trip from Lima.
Begin your adventure early with a picturesque journey to Paracas, where a high-speed boat will whisk you away to the Ballestas Islands, teeming with sea lions, penguins, and striking rock formations. Following this, enjoy a guided bus tour through the Paracas National Reserve, with opportunities to explore and enjoy a seaside lunch.
Next, head to Chincha for a guided tour of Hacienda San José and its eerie underground slave tunnels—a profound glimpse into Peru’s colonial history.
Travel in style on our luxury semi-bed bus, featuring reclining seats, an onboard restroom, and a Peruvian Host who will share legends, history, and insights throughout the trip.
This full-day adventure offers a blend of nature, culture, and significance, all without feeling hurried.
- The bus will arrive back in Lima around 11:30 pm - midnight
- The Only company with Luxury Buses for the long journey, others use small vans
- The tour runs with slight adjustments during the following holidays: Easter weekend (April 17-20) and Peru’s Independence Day celebrations (July 25-28). The pick-up time will be 1 hour before the usual time
- Minimum age: 8 years old – Must have parents permission
- Recommended: Treking or tennis Shoes (no flipflops allowed), Sunglasses, Hat, Sunscreen, Drinking water, Windbreaker jacket & warm clothes.
Location
Miraflores
Miraflores District,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(581 Ratings)
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J5658yafrancescom
May 12, 2025
100% Reccomend - Amazing helpful tour from Sol :) Had a great time, made memorable experiences and everything went smoothly! Seats in the bus were super comfortable too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jim
May 9, 2025
A day outside of Lima - Great day in a more remote area of Peru. It is a long ride but the coach was very comfortable. Our guides all did an amazing job of informing us of the itinerary . There were people who were going on different trips and lengths of stay so accuracy was key. The boat trip to the islands was wonderful and we wish we had more time out on the water. There was an option for an organized lunch, which most people did. We then had some free time to wander about the seaside town. The Golden Shadow Trek is really a TREK. It would have been good if there was a bit more of a disclaimer about what it would be like. The path is steep with lots of loose stones and gravel and bustering winds. If anyone has knee problems or vertigo issues...this is not the hike for you. But the views were spectacular.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andruugower
May 8, 2025
Great day with exceptional host - An amazing day seeing lots of wildlife around Ballestas Island and sampling different Peruvian foods before racing around the sand dunes in a dune buggy.
Our host for the day Franco was excellent! Very helpful, knowledgable and fun whilst shepherding a coach load of people from one place to another.
Highly recommend, well worth the early start and late finish!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R4381ecdid
May 6, 2025
Ballestas Island and Huacachina sand dunes boarding - This tour was awesome. We had Juan Carlos
as a tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the areas and if you had any questions he would answer them. His enthusiasm as a tour guide made the whole experience pleasurable. I would recommend this tour to anyone. The sand dunes is a must visit, so much fun and adrenaline to experienced on the trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
697mariagabrielas
May 4, 2025
You must have to do this trip - Excelent! It was a really great experience . Sol it’s an excellent tour guide and it’s was very well organized. I love everything
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jasminas825
Apr 30, 2025
Paracas and Huacachina - The tour was amazing and worth seeing, highly recommend it. We especially liked Huacachina. Sergio and Gato were the perfect guides.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nathalietl9933ew
Apr 26, 2025
Experience in Peru - Amazing tour, Sergio and Marjorie excellent guides, recommended 100%. My favorite part was the tour in the
Desert, the experience in sand carts and sand boarding
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N21mehta
Apr 20, 2025
Wonderful guide - Juan Carlos was an organized, informative and entertaining tour guide. He kept us on time and guided us through the various parts of the tour, offering suggestions for food as well as aware of what to expect. The ATVs were hands down the best part of the trip with spectacular views of the desert and a thrill seeking ride along the way!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicol_sp760
Apr 19, 2025
Tour con Franco - Franco was an excellent guide, he was attentive to everyone at all times. He was punctual and worried that the whole group was always satisfied. It was very friendly and friendly with everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
195lidianeg
Apr 20, 2025
Very good tour according to the planned - We really liked the transportation, very comfortable bus.
We liked Guia Juan Carlos, very helpful and polite. Very nice!!!
Although we did not speak Spanish well and not even English it was possible to communicate with him without any problems with the “portunhol”
The driver was good too.
As for the company, I think it should be more clear about there are no possibilities to take a bath before returning and also not to be possible to take a bath of the sea and in the oasis. As they ask to bring clothes and tennis, jacket. I brought clothes, unnecessary togas. But this concerns the organization and clarifications of the company before the tour. The tour happened all within the planned. That was great! The time for each activity is sufficient.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
