Paracas & Ballestas Islands Day Trip from Ica with Reserve

Ballestas wildlife, Paracas beaches, and the Candelabro mystery

You’ll ride out from Ica or Huacachina early for a day packed with wild sea lions at Ballestas Islands, mysterious ancient carvings in Paracas Bay, and time to swim or eat fresh fish on Red Beach. Expect laughter with your guide and moments where you just stop and stare—it’s not what you’d expect from a simple day trip.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from central Ica or Huacachina Oasis, all entry tickets for both Ballestas Islands boat ride and Paracas National Reserve visits (including Playa Roja and Lagunillas), an official bilingual guide throughout, plus return transport by minibus unless you choose to stay longer in Paracas yourself.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve Tour

• Pickup from Ica hotels at 7:00am
• Travel to Paracas district
• Check in at Paracas
• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• See El Candelabro geoglyph
• Observe marine wildlife on islands
• Return to Paracas pier
• Land transfer to Paracas National Reserve
• Visit Istmo viewpoint
• Visit Playa Roja
• Visit Playa Lagunillas
• Free time to swim and eat lunch
• Visit Playa La Mina
• Return transfer to Ica

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the salty breeze hitting my face as we left Ica behind—windows down, everyone a little sleepy but excited. Our guide, Rosa, had this way of making us laugh even before coffee. The drive to Paracas felt quick; maybe it was the desert light or just her stories about pisco and pelicans. When we reached the dock, there were fishermen hauling nets and that thick smell of seaweed—honestly not my favorite, but it felt real.

Getting onto the boat for the Ballestas Islands tour was a bit chaotic (in a fun way). Life jackets everywhere, people snapping photos already. I’d seen pictures of the Candelabro geoglyph before, but seeing it carved into that sandy hillside—so huge and weirdly perfect—made me stop talking for a second. Rosa explained nobody really knows who made it or why. The boat ride itself was loud: motors humming, waves slapping against fiberglass. Sea lions barked from their rocky thrones and penguins waddled in tight groups. At one point a pelican flew so close I ducked—everyone laughed at me for that.

Back on land, we piled into a minibus for the Paracas National Reserve. The colors out there are strange—red sand at Playa Roja, cliffs fading into pale blue water. We stopped at Mirador Istmo de la Península and just stood there in silence for a minute; you could hear wind whistling through nothing but rocks. Lunch was fried fish by Lagunillas beach (I tried to order in Spanish; Rosa grinned at my accent), and some folks swam while others just lay back in the sun. It’s hard to explain but something about the dry air and all that open space made me feel small—in a good way.

I didn’t expect to care much about birds or geology when I booked this day trip from Ica to Paracas & Ballestas Islands, but now I still think about those islands sometimes—the noise, the weird shapes of arches in stone, how everyone seemed happy just watching animals do their thing. On the drive back to Ica most of us nodded off with sand still stuck to our ankles.

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Ica to Paracas & Ballestas Islands?

The tour starts around 7:00am with pickup from central Ica or Huacachina hotels and returns by 4:30pm.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, pickup is included from hotels in central Ica or Huacachina Oasis.

Can I swim during the Paracas National Reserve tour?

Yes, there’s free time at Lagunillas Beach where you can swim if you want.

What wildlife can you see on Ballestas Islands?

You can spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, gulls, mollusks and other marine birds.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

No set lunch is included but there’s time to buy lunch at Lagunillas Beach restaurants.

What happens if weather cancels the boat ride?

If boats can’t depart due to weather, you’ll get a partial refund for that part of the tour; Paracas Reserve visit continues as planned.

Can pregnant women join this tour?

No; pregnant travelers cannot board tourist boats for safety reasons.

Can travelers stay in Paracas after the tour ends?

Yes—you can choose to end your tour in Paracas around 3:30pm instead of returning to Ica if you prefer.