Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve 1 Day

Ballestas Islands & Paracas.

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the local pier to start the tour to the Ballestas Islands. Ballestas Islands is an important sanctuary for marine life and made possible by the Humboldt Current. Here you’ll see and hear raucous sea lions, fur seals, Humboldt Penguins, guano birds, and possibly even Green Sea Turtles and dolphins. On the way to the islands, you’ll also see the Candelabro, a nearly 595-foot (181-meter) long, candlestick-shaped symbol etched into the side of a hill that can be seen from the sea. Some experts believe it may have served as a navigational guide for ancient sailors and was based on the constellation of the Southern Cross. Others believe that it was somehow related to the Nazca Lines. Still others believe it to have been inspired by a local cactus with hallucinogenic properties! During the tour, you can get up close and personal with marine birds and sea lions. Some of the unique bird species you might see include the Humboldt Penguin and the Peruvian Booby which only live along the Humboldt Current, as well as the Guanay Cormorant and the Red-legged Cormorant. Depending on the season, you’ll see sea lions playing with their young or simply frolicking on the rocks. At approximately 10:00 am we will return to the Pisco pier where we will have a short rest and then continue with the excursion to the Paracas National Reserve. During this land excursion to the Paracas Reserve, we will appreciate large groups of flamingos feeding on the seashore. In order to have a better view of these beautiful birds, it will be necessary to make a small walk to a small viewpoint, from which we can see them much better. According to some historians, the colors of this beautiful bird, inspired General San Martín (the man who fought for our independence and managed to defeat the Spanish crown in Peru) to create our red and white flag, when he landed in the bay of Paracas for the first time. Later we will visit the Interpretation Center of Paracas, an interesting place where we can learn about the flora and fauna that exists in the reserve. Here lie the skeletons of some animals, such as whales, wolves, penguins, among others. Later we will continue with our visit through the desert, following an unpaved road until we reach the beautiful beach of Lagunillas, where we can enjoy a good lunch and drinks in front of the sea (not included). After lunch, you will have some free time and then we will start the return to Paracas where you will board your return bus to the city of Lima. Upon arrival at the Lima bus terminal, one of our representatives will be waiting to transport you to the selected hotel.

Include: Transport, professional tour guide, entrance fees to all sites visited.