The 15 Best Ballestas Islands Boat Tours

1.Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 356 reviews · 5 hours · from $60Our pick

From Paracas, ride a speedboat to Ballestas Islands with an English-Spanish guide, then explore Paracas National Reserve by van. You’ll see sea lions, penguins, seabirds, the Candelabro, Playa Roja, and Lagunillas Beach. Guides such as Olenka and Pablo are known for making the reserve tour personal and informative.

“the tour was well planning and very effective in schedule. the tour to ballestas was wonderful!”

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2.Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 301 reviews · 2 hours · from $17Best value

From Muelle El Chaco, you’ll cruise to El Candelabro and the Ballestas Islands with an English or Spanish guide. Expect sea lions, Humboldt penguins, seabirds, rock formations, life jackets, and a covered speedboat. Guides such as Daphne and Mario are especially helpful at spotting wildlife.

“Daphne and Mario were spectacular. Both very helpful in locating wildlife and to show us anything we may be missing. At first we were listening and they found us! Great English language too. Very personable. very organized and even chairs to sit on while waiting for the tour. The wildlife was phenomenal. The rock formations were more than we expected. This tour is priceless. Thank you so much. The boat was clean and each seat had a vibrant life jacket on it. . The drive out was well controlled. TheyThe boat is covered. Great viewing opportunity.”

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3.Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve from Paracas

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 228 reviews · 7 hours · from $34

Start with a boat ride past the Candelabro geoglyph to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and seabirds. After free time in El Chaco, ride through Paracas National Reserve to La Catedral, Playa Roja, a flamingo overlook, and Lagunillas Beach. English and Spanish guides lead the day.

“El tour se divide en 2 partes: primero fuimos en speedboat a las Islas Ballestas, donde vimos pingüinos y lobos marinos y El Candelabro. Tras volver a Paracas, nos recogieron para la segunda parte a la Reserva Natural de Paracas, donde hicimos paradas en varios spots para ver el paisaje. En la penúltima parada había opción de bañarse en el mar y en la última podías comer en un restaurante frente al mar. El tiempo para la parada de la comida fue muy limitado, debería ser algo más de tiempo. Andrea, la chica de la agencia fue muy amable con nosotros en todo momento, gracias!”

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4.Ballestas Islands tour all Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 143 reviews · 2 hours · from $17

Take a two-hour eco-friendly motorboat trip from Paracas to the Candelabro geoglyph and Ballestas Islands. You’ll see Humboldt penguins, sea lions, seabirds, and dramatic rock formations with an English or Spanish guide. Lucio has earned special praise for clear, enthusiastic guiding.

“It was incredible. Everything worked perfectly well and Lucio, our guide, was amazing! He is clearly passionate about his job and loves the Island. His English is also very good!”

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5.Ballestas & Huacachina Day Trip w/ Nazca Lines Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 117 reviews · 19h 30m · from $600

Leave Lima before dawn for Ballestas Islands, a Nazca Lines flight over the Palpa Desert, and Huacachina Oasis. English-speaking guides such as Miguel, Aymen, Sergio, and Christian B help manage this long day. Transport, boat ride, flight, and Lima hotel pickup are included.

“The tour was wonderful and the tour Guide Alfonso Choji was great. He is very knowledgeable and very friendly. He made me interested in visiting Peru again ( I live in Australia - the longest flight possible). If I can give stars to this tour and tour guide I will put 10 stars out of 5. Thanks a lot”

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6.Paracas & Huacachina- Day to Islas Ballestas & Sandboard

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · 14 to 15 hours (approx.) · from $79

Leave Lima at 5 a.m. for a full day with IZI Peru. You’ll cruise around Islas Ballestas for penguins and sea lions, stop for lunch and pisco tasting, then race across Huacachina’s dunes by buggy and sandboard before returning around 10:30 p.m. Guides such as Diana, Mar, Scott, and Christopher have earned warm praise.

“The trip was a lot of fun. Everyone was very knowledgeable. Sand boarding was the highlight of the trip”

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7.Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Sunset Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 113 reviews · 17 hours · from $65

Join an English- or Spanish-speaking guide from Lima for a 17-hour day covering Paracas, the Ballestas Islands, a pisco winery, and Huacachina. Expect sea lions, penguins, desert buggies, beginner sandboarding, sunset views, and a very early start.

“Wonderful experience. Great value for the money. would do it over and over again. Best tour ever!”

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8.2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $49Top rated

From Puerto San Martín, you’ll ride a covered speedboat to the Ballestas Islands, stopping first at the Candelabra geoglyph. A guide explains its size, materials, and possible origin before you continue to sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, boobies, crabs, and other seabirds.

“Besides the very confusing information about the pick up location and time, we enjoyed the trip itself very much.”

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9.Ballestas, Nazca Lines & Huacachina Oasis

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 82 reviews · 14 to 19 hours (approx.) · from $550

Leave Lima around 3:30 a.m. for a full day with a Ballestas Islands boat ride, a flight over the Nazca Lines, and Huacachina’s dunes. Guides such as Aymen, Sergio, Gabriela, and Ruddy have led past departures. Expect shared boats, a small plane, long drives, and optional sandboarding.

“Our tour guide made a extremely long day manageable. Was surprise by the beauty of Ballestas Islands . Only down .I wish we had more information and history of the Nazca line specially in the flight we only got names”

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10.Nazca Lines & Ballestas Islands Private Tour Bus&Flight from Lima

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 77 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $818

Leave Lima before dawn for Paracas, cruise to the Ballestas Islands for sea lions, penguins, and seabirds, then fly from Pisco over the Nazca Lines in a 12-seat Cessna Caravan. Guides handle each transfer, but expect a very long day, extra airport fees, sharp turns, and possible delays.

“This makes for one very long day, but the organization of everything from transportion to tickets is spot on. This company really had it together. I was impressed. Yes, it is rather pricey and could be done cheaper. However, for the convenience of everything already put together for you and having someone to help along the way. Is definitely worth it. Glad I chose this tour.”

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11.Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

From San Martín Port, your English-speaking guide takes you by modern bus and speedboat to the Ballestas Islands, then across Paracas Reserve. Look for sea lions, Humboldt penguins, seabirds, fossils, red beaches, and the Candelabra geoglyph. Guides such as Olenka and Brenda are praised for clear, friendly commentary.

“The company that ran the trip said that they had emailed us to start the trip at 8:00am instead of 9:15 which. Trip was not organized well.”

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12.Ballestas Islands & National Reserve of Paracas from Ica

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $39

Start in central Ica at 6:30 a.m. for a combined boat trip to the Ballestas Islands and a land tour of Paracas National Reserve. Expect sea lions, Humboldt penguins, El Candelabro, Playa Roja, Lagunillas, and La Mina. Lunch, drinks, and the Paracas tourist ticket cost extra.

“tijdens onze boottocht hebben we verschillende dieren zoals zeeleeuwen, zeehonden, pinguins, pelikanen, gieren en anderen gezien. Onze gids stond steeds paraat om de nodige uitleg te geven over de de eilanden en de dieren. In de namiddag hebben we het nationaal park van Paracas bezocht en sloten we onze activiteit af met een lekkere verse vis die ze ter plaatse gevangen hadden”

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13.Ballestas Island Cruise & Paracas Reserve Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 27 reviews · from $55

Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking guide at Las Adventure in Paracas for a group speedboat ride to Ballestas, a stop at the Candelabro, and a drive through Paracas National Reserve. See penguins, sea lions, pelicans, Playa Roja, and Lagunillas Beach before transport to Huacachina or Ica.

“L'esperienza è stata molto ben organizzata e molto gradita. I trasporti, le guide, l'organizzazione...tutto davvero apprezzato! Inoltre tutti sono stati di una gentilezza incredibile!”

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14.Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Oasis Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 11 reviews · 5 hours · from $118

Start at Paracas Harbor by speedboat for the Ballestas Islands and El Candelabro, then visit an Ica vineyard, museum, cathedral, and Huacachina Oasis. Your English, Spanish, or Italian guide handles the private drive, tasting, and dune time. Expect a full day, despite the five-hour listing.

“We had an amazing day! We loved our tour guides and they made sure everything was perfect for us. They were very kind, informative, and accommodating. Highly recommend using them!”

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15.Ballestas Islands, Huacachina with buggy Economic

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 17 hours · from $95

Leave Lima before dawn for a speedboat ride past sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and the Candelabro, then visit a pisco winery near Ica before racing across Huacachina’s dunes by buggy. English and Spanish guides, including Miguel Ángel and Mayer, lead this long but action-packed day.

“Passeio perfeito. Créditos também para o Guia Miguel Ângelo que além de informar e conduzir bem, era uma simpatia.”

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