Ballestas Islands tour from San Martín Port: Cruise ship pickup

Skip the port scramble: boat leaves from Paracas pier with your ship's schedule built in

A Ballestas Islands tour from San Martín Port designed for cruise passengers, with pickup and drop-off steps from your ship's gangway and a 2-hour boat tour of the protected marine reserve. The tour includes an English-speaking guide, life jacket and safety gear, a modern speedboat, and a scenic stop at the Candelabra geoglyph etched into the coastal hillside. Entrance to the reserve is paid locally at the pier before departure. You can return with the shuttle or stay in Paracas town and catch the cruise shuttle back every 30 minutes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ballestas Islands boat tour from port

• Meet at San Martín Port
• Transfer to Paracas tourist pier
• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• Stop at Candelabra geoglyph
• Observe marine wildlife
• Pay entrance fee locally
• Explore Paracas town or return
• Return to port via shuttle

The experience

You arrive at San Martín Port and step off the ship into a pickup that's already waiting: no hunting for a guide, no negotiating with touts, no last-minute scramble. The operator collects you metres from your gangway and drives you to the Paracas tourist pier, where you board a modern speedboat for the 2-hour tour of the Ballestas Islands. This is a protected natural reserve, and the boat passes through waters where sea lions haul out on rocks, Humboldt penguins dive and surface, and dozens of seabird species nest on the cliffs. A scenic stop at the Candelabra geoglyph (a massive figure etched into the hillside centuries ago) breaks up the boat ride on the way out.

Wildlife sightings vary by season and tide, so what you see is never guaranteed, but the reserve itself is the draw. Your English-speaking guide narrates the boat tour and handles the logistics. You wear a life jacket and safety gear provided on board. The entrance fee to the reserve is paid locally at the pier before you depart, not in advance. Once the boat tour ends, you have a choice: return to the ship on the private shuttle the operator runs, or step off in Paracas town for an hour or two on your own. If you stay, the cruise shuttle runs back to the port every 30 minutes, so you can time your return to your ship's departure window.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off steps from your ship at San Martín Port.
• transport to the Paracas tourist pier.
• a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands on a modern speedboat.
• an English-speaking guide.
• life jacket and safety gear.
• a bottle of water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:15

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 5

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JD ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you speak English and want the guide's commentary during the boat ride, or if your ship's schedule is tight and you need pickup timed to your gangway and return guaranteed before departure. The private shuttle means you're not waiting for other passengers or worrying about missing your ship.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

Can I book this tour if my ship arrives in the afternoon?

Yes. The tour runs on demand for cruise passengers, so the departure time is flexible and timed to your ship's schedule. Pickup happens steps from your gangway whenever you're ready to go, and the operator ensures you're back before your ship leaves port.

What are the Ballestas Islands actually like?

The Ballestas Islands are a protected marine reserve off the coast of Paracas, home to sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and dozens of seabird species that nest on the rocky cliffs. The boat tour also passes the Candelabra geoglyph, a large coastal figure etched into the hillside. Wildlife sightings depend on the season and tide, so they're not guaranteed, but the reserve is active year-round.

What happens if I want to explore Paracas town instead of going straight back to the ship?

You can stay in Paracas after the boat tour ends and explore on your own. A cruise shuttle runs back to San Martín Port every 30 minutes, so you can return whenever you're ready. Just leave time to get back before your ship departs.

Do I need to pay the entrance fee in advance?

No. The entrance fee to the Ballestas Islands reserve is paid locally at the Paracas pier just before the boat tour departs, not when you book.

What's included in the tour price?

Pickup and drop-off from San Martín Port, transport to the Paracas pier, the 2-hour boat tour on a modern speedboat, an English-speaking guide, life jacket and safety equipment, and a bottle of water are all included. Food, drinks beyond the water, and tips are not included.