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Ballestas Islands Tour: Cruise Passenger Delight
4.7
39 Ratings
Paracas
Embark on a thrilling half-day group tour from San Martin Port to the Ballestas Islands. Discover a diverse array of marine life, including penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and more!
Embark on a thrilling half-day group tour from San Martin Port to the Ballestas Islands. Discover a diverse array of marine life, including penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and more!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Islas Ballestas - At 9:15 am, the guide will greet the group at San Martin Port and facilitate the transfer to Paracas town. Here, the group will gather and board a speedboat to embark on an exciting journey to the breathtaking Ballestas Island. En route, there will be a stop at the Paracas Peninsula to view the mysterious Candelabro, an…
- Islas Ballestas - At 9:15 am, the guide will greet the group at San Martin Port and facilitate the transfer to Paracas town. Here, the group will gather and board a speedboat to embark on an exciting journey to the breathtaking Ballestas Island. En route, there will be a stop at the Paracas Peninsula to view the mysterious Candelabro, an impressive design etched into the hillside. The origins of this figure remain unknown, with various theories suggesting a connection to the Nazca Lines, though no definitive evidence has been found. The adventure continues to Ballestas Island, where a vibrant ecosystem of birds and sea lions awaits. The tour includes visits to three islands, maintaining a respectful distance, and exploring some caves, depending on sea conditions. Upon returning to the port, the group will board a vehicle to travel back to San Martin Port and rejoin the ship.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
- All activities and transportation in group
- Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
- All activities and transportation in group
What's Not Included
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Opting for the Ballestas Islands tour directly from San Martín Port is the perfect choice for cruise passengers looking for a smooth and enriching shore excursion. The service starts just a few steps from the ship, removing the need for a cruise shuttle or additional transport. Tailored to align with cruise schedules, the tour ensures a timely return…
Opting for the Ballestas Islands tour directly from San Martín Port is the perfect choice for cruise passengers looking for a smooth and enriching shore excursion. The service starts just a few steps from the ship, removing the need for a cruise shuttle or additional transport. Tailored to align with cruise schedules, the tour ensures a timely return while providing a stunning encounter with nature. Within minutes, visitors will reach the Paracas pier and set off on a boat trip to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, dolphins, and the famous Candelabra geoglyph carved into the coastal hillside. Operated by a fully authorized local company with modern transport and knowledgeable guides, the tour promises comfort, safety, and a personal touch. Booking directly with the operator means no intermediaries, better value, and dedicated customer support throughout the experience.
- If your ship has a delay in arriving, we strongly suggest to notify us three to four days in advance so we can arrange a new pick up time. We also suggest you to keep checking your emails in case the pickup time changes.
- Printed travel voucher or E-travel voucher along with your passport or any ID its required before boarding (verification purpose only).
Location
Terminal Portuario General San Martín
All our tours depart directly from San Martín Port—no cruise shuttle needed. We use modern, authorised transport and guarantee your timely return. Our team awaits you at the port entrance from 6:00 AM. Enjoy a safe, smooth, and worry-free experience from ship to shore.
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
4.7
(39 Ratings)
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Jane_m
Dec 2, 2025
An amazing tour, with a... - An amazing tour, with a wonderful guide. Brenda is an absolute treasure. We only booked less than 24 hours ago. To have missed out on this experience would have been a travesty. We will return to Peru.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_m
Dec 2, 2025
Excellent tour with... - Excellent tour with personable and competent guide. Met at the port right off the ship. Really enjoyed.
Review provided by Viator
John_p
Nov 30, 2025
Well managed, educational day - An informative day with Marco, our guide, who pointed out each species of bird, several hidden marine creatures, and sea lions. The bus was waiting outside our ship and we left on time. It was a sunny, warm day but the advice to bring a jacket for the wind on the ride to the islands was good. We spent a nice long time floating around the islands to observe and photograph the animals. Seeing the Candelabra was a special treat and Marco shared several theories about its origin. At the end of the boat tour he brought a number of us to a very good restaurant for local seafood.
Review provided by Viator
Dan_l
Sep 6, 2025
Our guide was very eager... - Our guide was very eager to make the tour memorable to everyone, and it was. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Stephen_c
Feb 14, 2025
Fun time watching wildlife - We had a great tour. It took about two hours total. The boat ride to the islands was about 30 minutes each way. We saw lots of birds, including penguins and pelicans. We also saw hundreds of sea lions. The guide seemed quite knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Fossil1
Dec 15, 2024
Outstanding trip, great value and excellent service - Booked the tour about a month before the cruise and the trip could not go any more smoothly. Price was outstanding and was about $200 less per person than the same tour offeered by Princess. Jose and his staff were at the pier as promised and took us for a short drive to the boat in Paracas for the tour bypassing several other groups that were waiting for their boat. His staff was excellent inculding our guide Olinka (sp?) who knew her stuff and was easy to understand. I must confess some apprehension as Princess warned us that independent operators could not enter the port area (false) though they alerted us to the same situation in Lima (Callao). He and his staff met us at the gangway in Paracas as promised. We did not see any independnet operators in Lima. Jose and his saff ushered through the entire boarding process and did the same when our boat returned.
The boat carrying approximately 40 people was in great condition and the cpatain did a wonderful job showing us the wildlife and guano fields. He made certain that both sides of the boat had ample opportunity to see the wildlife and take pictures. We had a brilliant sunny day and the canopy on the boat shielded us from the sun.
Highly recommended as Jose was responsive to several emails with detailed explanations. At the conclusion of the tours my wife decided to return back to the ship with their return transfer whike I stayed in gthe small town for lunch and shopping. His restaurant recommendation as spot on as well--Muna.
My only recommendation to the tour operator is that they encourage people to provide voluntary tips to both the guide and the boat captain. I was surprised that very few people and I mean very few people gave tips.
The trip was outstanding and I highly recommend the company--job very well done. If I return, I would book them again for other trips without any hesitation.
For those arriving by ship, book them!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileen_b
Dec 4, 2024
Great tour don’t miss it - Just a really fun tour best we had in the seventeen days we were gone. We saw Penguins, sea lions, some of the others saw whales, I missed that they were on the other side of the boat. The caves were so interesting to see what water can do to rock over the years. Great tour don’t miss this one.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_m
Jul 28, 2024
Great tour, highly recommended! - Great tour, fantastic communication and service. Boat ride was excellent, and we saw all the key things as promised.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_s
Apr 13, 2024
It was a great tour.... - It was a great tour. Thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. We did get to see 3 penguins and lots of sealions.
Review provided by Viator
Lucie_a
Dec 2, 2025
The duration of the excursion... - The duration of the excursion was more than 4 hours, because on our return to the port, the guide gave us 2 hours in the town of Paracas to walk and shop. The visit to Ballestas Island was very interesting and appreciated. Our guide Marco even stopped us in another peninsula to take pictures of the beautiful scenery before we returned to the boat.
Review provided by Viator
