When people from Lima need to take a break from the city, they head to the beach town of Paracas. This longtime weekend getaway destination for Limeños is now becoming a favored destination for in-the-know visitors to Peru—and for good reason. Paracas promises easy access to Peru’s marine life-rich southern coastline, rugged desert dunes, and world-famous attractions, including the ancient geoglyphs known as the Nazca Lines. Whether you want to dive into Paracas’ pre-Columbian history or sip pisco by a pool, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Paracas.
Paracas is a great place to visit any time of year, but the summer months from December to March promise warm weather and calm ocean conditions that are preferable for boat trips. This is also the sea lion breeding season, so you may even spot pups along the coast. March through May is typically the high season—avoid this period if you’re hoping to dodge crowds.
About a 3-hour drive south of Lima, Paracas (which is also referred to as El Chaco) is a small town that is compact enough to get around on foot. If you want to explore the surrounding Paracas National Reserve (Reserva Nacional de Paracas), you can hop in a taxi, rent a car or bicycle, or book a guided tour that includes pickup from your hotel.
More than 150 species of birds—including Peruvian boobies and pelicans—as well as Humbolt penguins and thousands of sea lions make the Ballestas Islands their home, earning it the nickname "the Peruvian Galapagos.” Just 6 miles (9.5 kilometers) off Paracas, the small group of islands makes for an easy day trip that can be combined with a plane ride over the mysterious Nazca Lines and a 4-wheel drive through the surrounding sand dunes.
