The Ballestas Islands are the most booked boat trip in Paracas: a two-hour speedboat ride from the El Chaco pier to a group of rocky islands covered in sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds. This guide gives you the price, the departure times, what you actually see, and how to fit the tour into a day that also includes Yakupark Paracas or a parasailing flight with YakuFly.

How much does the Ballestas Islands tour cost?

The prices below are indicative and come from the Yakupark Spanish guide to the islands, updated for 2026. The agencies on the El Chaco boardwalk sell the same tour at similar prices, so there is no need to book weeks ahead.

Two fees are usually not included in the advertised price and are paid at the pier: the boarding tax (S/5) and the protected-area entrance fee (S/11). The islands belong to the National Reserve System of Islands, Islets and Guano Points (RNSIIPG), managed by SERNANP. The SERNANP fee table lists S/11 per adult, S/3 for minors from 5 to 16, free entry for children under 5, and a promotional S/17 ticket that covers both the islands and the Paracas National Reserve.

What time do the boats leave?

There are three departures, and the first one is the best:

• 8:00 a.m. The calmest sea, the best light for photos and fewer boats. The Yakupark guide to El Chaco notes that this tour leaves punctually.
• 10:00 a.m. The second departure, busier.
• 12:00 p.m. Offered by some agencies in high season; the sea is rougher by then.

SERNANP lists visiting hours for the islands as Monday to Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., which is why there are no afternoon tours. The wind that gives Paracas its name picks up in the afternoon and is strongest between August and November.

How long does the tour take?

About two hours: roughly 30 minutes out, one hour around the islands and 30 minutes back. Landing on the islands is not allowed, because they are a protected area, so everything is seen from the boat. On the way out the boat stops in front of the Candelabro.

What do you see on the Ballestas Islands?

According to the Yakupark guide and the SERNANP page for the reserve, these are the species you can expect:

• South American sea lions: large colonies, noisy pups, big males on the rocks.
• Humboldt penguins, an endangered species. SERNANP names the colony «Saltadero».
• Peruvian boobies and blue-footed boobies.
• Peruvian pelicans.
• Guanay cormorants, the birds that produce the famous guano.
• Terns and Inca terns.
• With luck: dolphins, humpback whales (July to October) and marine otters.

The animals are usually 30 to 50 metres from the boat, so a camera with zoom helps.

The Candelabro

Before reaching the islands, the boat pauses in front of the Candelabro, a geoglyph about 180 metres long carved into the hillside of the Paracas peninsula. Its origin is still debated: a signal for sailors, a religious symbol or a link to the Nasca lines. Nobody knows for certain.

Can I do the Ballestas tour and Yakupark on the same day?

Yes, and it is the most common combination in Paracas. Both start at El Chaco: the boats leave from the pier at the north end of the boardwalk, and the Yakupark entrance is at the south end, a five-minute walk away. A tested schedule:

Yakupark Paracas opens Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets start at S/35 (indicative) and go up to S/150 for a full-day pass, and you can pay with Visa, Yape or Plin. A life jacket is included and you do not need to know how to swim. Buy your ticket on the Yakupark ticket page or see the full list on the Yakupark Paracas page. For group combos, WhatsApp +51 913 764 436.

Can I add a parasailing flight with YakuFly?

Yes. YakuFly, the parasailing operation of Yakupark Adventure, also leaves from the El Chaco pier, with morning slots at 8, 9, 10 and 11 a.m. and afternoon slots at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. After an 8:00 a.m. boat tour, the 11:00 a.m. flight or any afternoon slot fits without rushing. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot for check-in and the safety brief.

• Price: S/200 per solo flight, S/350 for two people on the same parachute, S/499 for three (IGV included).
• Minimum age 10; from 10 to 17 a legal guardian must sign the authorisation.
• Take-off and landing from the boat; touching the water is optional.
• Free rescheduling up to 24 hours before. If wind or swell make it unsafe, the flight is moved or refunded in full.

What should I bring on the boat?

• A cap or hat: the sun is strong on the water and the seabirds drop guano often.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses. peru.travel lists hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as the three essentials.
• A windbreaker. It is colder on the sea, especially in the morning, even in summer.
• A camera with zoom.
• Cash for the S/5 boarding tax and the S/11 reserve fee.
• A motion-sickness pill if you know you are sensitive.

peru.travel also recommends booking only with operators authorised by DIRCETUR and asking for a receipt, staying in your seat during the tour, and never feeding the animals.

How do I avoid seasickness?

The boat is open and fast, so some people feel it. Book the 8:00 a.m. departure: the sea is at its calmest then and gets rougher towards midday. Take a motion-sickness tablet before boarding if you are prone to it, eat a light breakfast rather than skipping it, and keep your eyes on the horizon instead of your phone. The whole trip lasts two hours.

How do I get to Paracas from Lima?

Paracas is about 250 km (155 miles) south of Lima on the Panamericana Sur, 3.5 to 4 hours by bus or car. Cruz del Sur, Oltursa and Soyuz/PerúBus run direct buses, with tickets from around S/35 (indicative). Full-day tours from Lima leave very early, include the Ballestas tour and return at night. All the options with prices are in the English guide Lima to Paracas: how to get there. For more ideas once you arrive, see what to do in Paracas (in Spanish).

FAQ

Do I need to book the Ballestas tour in advance?

Not usually. The agencies on the El Chaco boardwalk sell the tour the evening before or the same morning at similar prices, and groups of four or more can ask for a discount. Book ahead on long weekends and during the summer holidays.

Is the Ballestas tour suitable for children?

Yes. Life jackets are mandatory on board, and SERNANP charges S/3 for minors from 5 to 16 and nothing for children under 5. The boat is open and it can be windy, so bring a jacket for them.

Can I visit the Paracas National Reserve on the same day?

Yes. Combined tours (S/90 to S/130, indicative) do the islands in the morning and the north circuit of the reserve afterwards: La Catedral, Playa Roja and La Mina. The reserve is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the SERNANP promotional ticket for both areas costs S/17.

What is the best month for the Ballestas tour?

Any month works, because Paracas is dry almost all year. December to April is warmer (22 to 30 °C) and the best time to combine the tour with Yakupark; July to October is humpback whale season. Mornings are best year-round, because the wind rises in the afternoon.