The 15 Best Paracas Tours & Day Trips

1.Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Full Day Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,780 reviews · 18 hours · from $59Our pick

Leave Lima before sunrise for Paracas and Huacachina with a bilingual guide such as Franklin, Aymeth, Fio, or Diego. Ride a comfortable coach to Ballestas Islands, visit a pisco vineyard, then take an optional buggy and sandboarding run across Huacachina’s dunes before returning late at night.

“A day that is close to perfection to be honest. The value for money is incredible with having the boat tour into morning in Paracas finishing off with the headliner that is Huacachina. Huacachina is really a wonder in itself with the sand buggys on the dunes and sand boarding aswell with an incredible sunset. 10/10”

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2.Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

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

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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3.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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4.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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5.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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6.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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7.Mini Buggy GO KART in Paracas National Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 98 reviews · 2 hours

Take the wheel of a private mini buggy for two and cross the desert scenery of Paracas National Reserve. An instructor handles the safety briefing, then you stop at Yumaque Beach, Red Beach, and the reserve’s upper viewpoint. This is a driving adventure, not a cultural tour.

“Le premier départ du matin permet d'avoir le désert pour soi.”

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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.Paragliding Flight at Paracas National Reservation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Meet at Paracas es Aventura in town, ride to the flying zone, and let your pilot handle the flight. You only need to walk, take off, and enjoy 5 to 10 minutes above the Paracas coast. The private format keeps things calm, with English and Spanish instruction, transfers, and accident insurance included.

“Great guys and great experience. Took my 58 year old mom and 14 year old son. Both enjoyed it. Great views”

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10.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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11.Visit the Paracas National Reserve on a SCOOTER

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 1 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $35

Rent a scooter from Playa Roja Tours and follow a supplied map through Paracas National Reserve. You choose your pace and stops, with routes to Yumaque, Playa Roja, the Cathedral, the mine, and a lagoon. A license is required. Helmets, glasses, and the map are included.

“Flexible and let us change dates due to illness. Flexible about timings of starting. Good instructions on where to go.”

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12.Huacachina & Paracas Aventure Tour All Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 44 reviews · 1 day · from $81

Leave Lima around 5am for Paracas and the Ballestas Islands, then taste pisco and wine in Ica before riding dune buggies and sandboarding at Huacachina. English and Spanish guides, snacks, water, transport, tickets, and hotel pickup are included, but lunch is extra.

“Omar è stato molto bravo a spiegare tutto!! Magari la gita al deserto potrebbe durare un po’ di più però nel complesso è stata una bella giornata”

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13.Paracas or Pisco: Private Huacachina Oasis Tour & Buggy Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 43 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

Travel from Paracas to Ica by private vehicle, visit a traditional pisco and wine winery, then ride a dune buggy across Huacachina’s desert. You’ll have time by the oasis, a sandboarding lesson, and a sunset stop. The transport is private, but the buggy portion may be shared.

“Lo único privado es el transporte desde y hacia el Oasis, el resto del tour no es privado, sino tercerizado con otras empresas en donde hay más turistas. El tour está bien, pero demasiado caro para lo que fue.”

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14.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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15.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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