Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paracas, Peru
- 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a short excursion during your time at port to the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve by speedboat. See the iconic Candelabra geoglyph carved into the side of a mountain and observe the native flora and fauna of the area, including sea lions, as you navigate through the caves. Receive a personalized experience with a private guide and learn about the Paracas area before rejoining your ship.
- Explore the Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve on a short excursion
- See the famous Candelabra geoglyph as you cruise by on a speedboat
- Observe the flora and fauna of the Ballestas Islands including sea lions
- Enjoy personalized services with a private guide
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from/to San Martin Port Pisco
- English speaking tour guide
- Modern Bus for all transfers.
- Modern Speedboat for Ballestas Islands
- Life jacket and aall safety equipment.
- Transportation for land tour.
- Bottle of Water
- Personal travel insurance
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fee - Islas Ballestas & Paracas Reserve$7.00 per person
- Tips are not include
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
All our shore excursions in Pisco start directly from the San Martín Port—no need to take the cruise shuttle service. Our team will be waiting for you right at the port entrance from 8:00 AM onwards. We operate our own modern, comfortable buses exclusively for our clients, and we are fully authorised with all the required permits to enter the port and carry out tourist operations safely and professionally. We also guarantee your timely return to the ship, so you can relax and enjoy your excursion with complete peace of mind. Book with confidence—our reliable service ensures a seamless experience from the moment you disembark.
Operating hours.9:15 am
Itinerary
1
Las Islas Ballestas
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Paracas National Reserve
2 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 87 reviews
John_S, Apr 2026
This was a wildlife tour. It consisted of a boat ride out to some islands populated by a lot of birds, a few penguins, and sea lions. Unfortunately, the public address system on the boat was very poorly used by the guide such that it was very difficult to understand the narration of the tour and discussion about what we were seeing. But there were many opportiunities to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
Steve_W, Apr 2026
A great tour of Ballestas Island and Paracas National Reserve. Great option for cruise passengers because they pick you up and drop you off at the pier. Otherwise you have to take a shuttle into town about 30 minutes away. Company communication was excellent, told time and where pick up would be. Ballestas Island is about 25 minutes away by boat and it will be windy along the way. Island is fascinating with sea lions, penguins, and lots of birds. Along the way you stop to see the Candelabro which is a carving on the side of a hill. The bus ride in Paracas National Reserve is very interesting too. Looks like you're on Mars with the scenery. Hike up to the top on the lookout, you get a better overall view.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for your lovely review!
We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve. It’s great to know that the pick-up and drop-off at the pier made things easier during your cruise stop, and that our communication helped everything run smoothly.
The wildlife at the Ballestas Islands is always fascinating, and we’re glad you enjoyed seeing the sea lions, penguins and the many seabirds. The stop at the Candelabro of Paracas is certainly one of the most intriguing sights along the coast as well.
We also appreciate your comments about the landscapes in the Paracas National Reserve. Many visitors say it feels like being on another planet, and the viewpoint hike truly offers a spectacular perspective of the desert meeting the ocean.
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Peru in the future!
Mark_H, Mar 2026
The boat trip to Ballestas Islands was brilliant! Approx. 50 seater powerful boat takes you along the coast to the islands, spotting wildlife on the way. The islands are full of bird & sea life and the boat takes you up close. A really great trip not to be missed. Our guide was Olenka, very professional, knowledgeable & fun. We went on to the Paracas national reserve, well worth a visit to see the landscapes & coastline. Highly recommended. P.S.The port pickup directly from a cruise ship works very well & communication before the trip from the tour co. was spot on.
J_S, Mar 2026
What a wonderful tour. Lots of birds, sea lions, & penguins on these gorgeous islands.We even saw a whale. Sea Lion “Nursery Beach” was a highlight. Loved it all.
Edward_A, Mar 2026
We received detailed information the day before the tour which was great. We had to be shuttled out of the port because apparently the coach bus didn’t get their paperwork to enter the port. The tour was good and we were able to take pictures and Brenda was very informative. I was amazed that we had the 3 stops in the Reserve so we could take pictures. I will tell others about this tour!
Sue_H, Mar 2026
This was a great tour of Ballestas Islands and paracas nature reserve.
The captain of the boat made sure that he turned the boat around plenty of times so that everyone could see everything well. We didn't see many penguins so he decided to take us to another outcrop of rocks where we saw some more.
The nature reserve was stunning. The stops for taking photos and an excellent informative guide.
jeffrey_l, Mar 2026
Very difficult to understand guide heavy accent. Pick up was confused due to improper paper work by driver
Richard_L, Mar 2026
Very enjoyable all around. Great guide. We saw pelicans, Penguins, sea lions, baby sea lions!, Cormorants, and a whale. My wife was thrilled! She said it was one of the most exciting nature tours we’ve been on.
Jacqueline_L, Mar 2026
The excursion from the cruise port was excellent and convenient! We were lucky to see lots of birds, seals and even a penguin or two.
Iain_B, Mar 2026
Unfortunately due to the swell around the islands the tour had to be cancelled however we took another shorter boat tour to the White Island which was excellent and well worth exploring.
JD Adventure tour were excellent and kept us informed and also confirmed immediately that we would get a full refund within 3/5 working days.
carolynbeirne, Mar 2026
Excellent excursion! Ran very efficiently. The boat ride to the island was so much fun. Saw tons of birds, sea lions and a few penguins. Guide was very knowledgeable and Captain did a fantastic job of maneuvering the boat so that everyone could see. Highly recommend.
adrian_m, Mar 2026
Great to get up close to nature. See all the birds and seals and maybe a penguin or two! The ride in the boat was fast and exciting.
YI_L, Dec 2025
The tour company made sure we got picked up inside the port, right beside our cruise. The island tour is great, the captain made sure passengers from both sides of the boat got a chance to see penguins, sea lions, birds etc.
The landscaping at the national park is amazing, looks like Mars. We had a couple stops along the way.
Julie_T, Dec 2025
The tour of ballestas island and national reserve was beautiful and worthwhile. I struggled to understand our tour guide whose English was very difficult to understand. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about all the areas and history, but I wasn’t able to get as much out of the tour as I’d hoped.
SYLVIE_M, Dec 2025
Excellent half-day excursion from the cruise port. No worries, the guide/bus was waiting for us when we got off the boat. Excellent guide Olinka and driver, very attentive and professional. Two parts: first by high-speed boat to Balasta Island where we saw penguins, seals, birds, and starfish—it was WOW. Then in the National Park (desert) we visited beautiful beaches. Very comfortable bus, really a very nice tour. Strongly recommend.
Terence_C, Dec 2025
Absolutely brilliant. Early start, which meant we were at the islands before the wind got strong. The mix of wonderful wildlife (we got really close in the boat to see everything) and visiting the desert wonders was great. To sum up, a great trip, beating expectations.
Murray_M, Dec 2025
Ballestas Island was interesting. The boat operator was able to get us close to the sea lions and penguins. The boat ride was smooth and safe.
Simon_P, Dec 2025
Take sea-sickness tablets before departure. You will see lots of sea lions, penguins and birds. Binoculars are beneficial. The islands are uninhabited except for wildlife, which is viewed from your speedboat.
lindafindlay, Dec 2025
This was a great excursion from our cruise ship. Seamless pickup and Brenda, our guide, was informative and friendly. The boat trip to Ballestas Islands was fantastic and the Captain, Brian, was a wizard at getting us as close to the wildlife as possible, always aware not to intrude or disturb them. Having the opportunity to walk the Malecon in Paracas was a bonus. We wandered further down than most and were met with great hospitality and warmth. The adventure into the Paracas dessert was wonderful with Brenda providing information as we traveled. Seeing the Rd Beach was a thrill.
For those with trouble traveling on open ocean for the 20 mile voyage to the islands be warned that the waters can be choppy and very windy, particularly when returning to shore. As people who spend a fair amount of time on the water we can confidently say you will be in good hands as the captain was very seasoned in these waters and we were so impressed with his skills.
All in all a very enjoyable way to spend the better part of the day with return to the ship in time for a late lunch. Thanks again, Brenda!!
Nancy_F, Dec 2025
Great excursion, Fabio was a wealth of information. The pick up was perfect at the port right outside the ship. The tour described it as small group tour. There were more people on this tour.
Wendy_C, Sep 2025
Amazing day our guide was very experienced and her knowledge and enthusiasm of the area was great. Highly recommend thus tour
Sunil_J, May 2025
The guide was knowledge able and friendly
Better English is prepared.
But the tour was exceptionally good
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We're delighted to hear that you found the tour exceptionally good and that you appreciated our guide’s knowledge and friendliness.
We also appreciate your note regarding the English spoken — we’re always looking to improve and will certainly take this into account to ensure an even better experience for future guests.
We hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon!
Sylvia_K, Apr 2025
This was a wonderful way to go out and see the wildlife at the Lester Islands. The boat is very comfortable, has a nice shaded roof for your comfort. The tour operator was extremely knowledgeable about the different animals we were seeing. And we did see everything, if it was there, we saw it.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're truly delighted to hear you had such a wonderful time exploring the wildlife at the Lester Islands. It's fantastic to know you found the boat comfortable and appreciated the shaded roof — we always aim to ensure our guests' comfort. We're especially pleased that our guide’s knowledge helped enrich your experience, and that you were able to spot such a variety of wildlife. Your kind words mean a great deal to us and we hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future!
Janet_V, Mar 2025
Olenka was our tour guide, and we could not have asked for better. She spoke clearly, so everyone could understand. That she is very proud of her country was very obvious. She is very knowledgeable and also relayed fun facts.
On the boat tour she was quick to point out penquins, sea lions, and various species of birds. We were lucky to see such various wildlife on the boat tour. The reserve was also great.
We would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback!
We're absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience, and especially pleased to know that Olenka made such a positive impression. She truly is passionate about sharing the beauty and history of Peru, and it's lovely to hear that her clear communication and enthusiasm made your tour even more memorable.
It’s wonderful that you had the chance to see such a variety of wildlife during the boat trip — the penguins and sea lions are always a highlight! We're also glad you enjoyed the reserve.
Thank you again for recommending the tour — it means a great deal to us!
Teah_F, Mar 2025
This was a very good tour and I would recommend it. Our guide was friendly, helpful and shared good information. They only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the description said the tour would be maximum 15 person and we were on a bus with 40+ people. We arrived on a cruise ship and all were from our ship. All in all we still enjoyed the tour but felt that was very misleading.
Catherine_B, Mar 2025
This shore excursion was well organized and communication from the tour company was excellent. A big plus was that the buses meet cruise passengers right beside the ship. The boat captain did a great job in maneuvering so everyone could see the islands from either side of the boat. Be sure to carry a light jacket. The speedboat ride to the islands was quite chilly because of the wind even though the morning of our tour was warm. Also, if you are prone to motion sickness, prepare for that before you leave because there could be some swaying of the boat when the engine is stilled, depending on the waters on your tour day. The views on the reserve tour were beautiful, and the two tour package was a good deal.
Sandra_W, Jan 2025
Good to see the islands and birds etc. Great organisation but too many people. Supposed to be a maximum
Danny_C, Dec 2024
It was a pleasurable experience with the boat seeing seals and penguins and the different types of birds, the Candalabra and all the other sites. Then going to vision the ocean and the desert beside each other and the other sites .
Diane_R, Dec 2024
Very excellent tour. My guide was very knowledgeable, and I learned so much. I will never forget this experience.
Hank_D, Dec 2024
Pick-up was on time at the ship. Olenka was knowledgeable and passionated about history of her country and provided a lot of information. The island and Paracas National Reserve were beautiful. We're very happy with the operation and scenery. Definitely a must do.
From $100.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL
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