Is a Ballestas Islands Boat Tour in Peru Worth it?
The Ballestas Islands, also known as the Galapagos of Peru, is one of the places I visited while staying in Paracas and let me just say that it was not somewhere I was expecting to be this blown away by.
The boat ride itself, is pretty affordable at around USD17-20 per person and is 2 hours long. We saw SO many animals and even saw something on the cliffside which reminded me of the Nazca Lines!
If you’re wondering whether the 2 hour Ballestas Islands Boat Tour is worth it, you’re not the only one. After taking the tour myself and spending time in Paracas, I’ve put together this review to help you decide if it’s worth adding the Ballestas Islands Boat Tour to your Peru itinerary.
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Is the Ballestas Islands Boat Tour Worth It? My Honest Review
I wasn’t expecting much when I boarded the tour boat to the Ballestas Islands. I knew that these islands were nicknamed the “Galapagos of Peru” but I thought that was just a sales tactic.
I was NOT expecting to see Boobies (white footed not blue footed), loads of sea lions and sea birds. The absolute best part of the tour was seeing a crew of Humboldt Penguins jump into the water one after the next. We got a morning tour and I guess this was one of the perks.
Our tour guide was very funny and even gave my friend and I special treatment and let us sit up the front of the boat to watch the penguins! I have absolutely no idea why but we appreciated it so much!
I walked off the boat after the tour feeling so excited about what we had seen and so fulfilled.
I absolutely think this tour is worth it if you are someone who loves animals and learning about wildlife and also history. It was also really nice to sit back and relax on the boat tour because we had just finished hiking the Salkantay Trek and I was beyond ready to relax at this point.
Everything You Need to Know About Taking a Ballestas Islands Boat Tour in Paracas
The Ballestas Islands are located in Paracas, about a 4 hour drive from Lima. To get there, you can either rent a car, take the public bus or book a day trip tour from Lima. My friend and I took the public bus and then booked the boat tour separately.
Ballestas Island Boat Tour at a glance
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: from USD 17 per person
Group size: 40-45 people
Best time of the day: The morning for the most active animal sightings!
What you will see: Seal lions, penguins, boobies (birds), potentially dolphins, Pelicans, Inca Terns, Guanay Cormorants, the mysterious Paracas Candelabra.
Food & drinks: Not included
Guide: English or Spanish speaking local guide
How to book: Check availability and book here
I found this pretty easy to book a couple of months out because I went in November, however if you are going during peak season from May to September, you need to book WELL IN ADVANCE as spots fill up quickly.
Wildlife you can expect to see on the Ballestas Islands Boat Tour
Wildlife is not guaranteed and you may not see everything on your boat tour but here’s what you could see:
- Humboldt Penguins – my favourites
- Sea Lions
- Guanay Cormorants
- Peruvian Boobies
- Pelicans
- Inca Terns
- Dolphins (occasionally)
Boat tour Itinerary
Stop 1: Paracas Candelabra
This is something I really wasn’t expecting! The first thing you’ll see on your tour is a 120m geoglyph called Paracas Candelabra which was carved into the desert hillside years ago dating back to 200 BCE. No one really knows who carved it or why. It’s a similar mystery to the Nazca Lines, which is another thing you should see while you are in Peru. Some say it was carved by pirates or ancient cultures or even aliens!
Stop 2: The Ballestas Islands!
The Ballestas Islands are a group of rocky islets where an abundance of wildlife lives. We saw pretty much everything, Sea Lions, Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Boobies, Pelicans, Inca Terns and my personal favourite, the Humboldt Penguins!
We were incredibly lucky when we were there as the penguins had decided that this was the moment that they were all going to jump into the water one by one. I felt like I was in David Attenbourgh.
We spent a while at the islands going around to different sections, while our guide pointed out all of the different wildlife and spoke about each one.
Stop 3: Sea Lions on a buoy
On the way back, we stopped at a buoy to view a group of sea lions sunbaking around the edges of it. What a spot to sunbake! Our guide did a full circle of the buoy a couple of times so that everyone got the chance to see the seals and get some photos.
Tips for making the most of your Ballestas Islands Tour
- Bring cash – for a tip for your guide.
- Bring your own water – the tour does not provide water.
- Bring your own snacks
- Photography tips – I used my camera with my 16-35 f/2.8 but I wish I had my 28-70mm with me.
- Bring layers to stay warm – The boat got a little chilly and my raincoat served as a good windbreaker.
- Bring sun protection – the sun was pretty intense!
- Don’t expect to go ashore – you will stay on the boat the entire tour.
Who this tour is best for
This tour is great for anyone who enjoys seeing and learning about local wildlife and learning about the places they are visiting including the history.
If you get severe sea sickness then this tour might not be great for you as you do spend the entire 2 hours on the boat. However, I really do recommend this tour so if you can take sea sickness tablets and just do it, just do it. 😉 You won’t regret it.
This tour is also great for kids because they get to see the wildlife that is common to Paracas and learn about the mysterious Paracas Candelabra which I found extremely interesting! It is a huge prehistoric geoglyph that looks a lot like a Trident on the side of the Paracas Peninsula that you go past in the boat on the way to the islands.
What to expect before boarding
You should arrive at the meeting place at least 20 minutes before departure to check in. You can also opt for a hotel pick up which is what we did but actually probably didn’t need it because our hotel was so close to the meeting place and we ended up walking anyway.
Your park tickets and taxes are included in the ticket price and you are able to leave belongings at the office if you need to. We just had our day packs so brought everything with us.
There are plenty of cafes nearby that you can get coffee at before your tour. If you are looking for a good coffee, there is Puerto Specialty Coffee or if you just want the closest place to the departure spot, you could try Coffee Bell.
Once you board the boat, you will be given a life jacket and a safety briefing before setting off on your tour.
Combine the Ballestas Islands Boat Tour and Paracas National Reserve in One Day
If you are staying in Paracas, you should miss seeing the Paracas National Reserve. It’s like a national park in middle of the desert, but also on the coast so you get incredible views of the huge long beaches from high up on the cliffs, including the red beaches which are amazing to see.
You can book a combined Ballestas Islands Tour and Paracas National Reserve Tour here!
Visiting the Ballestas Islands from Lima
If you are staying in Lima and don’t have time to travel all of the way to Paracas for an overnight stay, you can still do it as a day trip from Lima.
This tour is a full day tour starting in Miraflores and you go to Paracas, do the Ballestas Boat Tour and then visit Paracas National Reserve on quad bikes which is something I also did and it was a lot of fun! The reserve is absolutely stunning with views from the top of huge cliffs over looking wild beaches.
After Paracas, you will make your way to Huacachina to go sandboarding and watch the sunset and let me tell you, Huacachina has THE BEST sunsets from the top of the sand dunes!.
frequently asked questions
My thoughts
Paracas and the Ballestas Islands in particular were one of my favourite places in Peru that I went to. I feel like it’s still quite a hidden gem so if you are on the fence, go check it out! The tour was incredible and the town of Paracas is so cute with lots of nice restaurants and cafes.
Don’t plan your trip to Peru without reading these:
- How to Spend a Magical 3 Days in Cusco
- Best Day Trips From Cusco, Peru
- Things to do in Cusco for First-Timers
- Unique Places to Stay in Cusco
- An Incredible Lima 1 Day Itinerary
- Best Things to do in Lima Peru
- Where to Stay in Lima (I found the best place ever)!
- Is Lima Worth Visiting: My Honest Review
- Is Cusco Worth Visiting?
- Bucket List Things to Do in Peru
- Is Huacachina Worth Visiting: My Honest Option
- Where to Stay in Huacachina
- How to Get to Huacachina from Lima
- Is Rainbow Mountain Worth It? What I’d Do Differently After Visiting
- Where to Stay in Paracas Peru: The Most Beautiful Budget Hotel
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