Things to do in Paracas
The unmissables
Most booked
Paracas Golden Shadows Trek: 4-Hour Sunset Walk & Desert Cliffs★ 4.92 (327) · 4h
Top rated
Paracas National Reserve: Scooter Rental & Self-Guided Beach Tour★ 4.94 (119) · 1h–10h
Best value
Paracas: ATV Tour with Playa Roja & Cathedral Viewpoints★ 4.79 (126) · 2h
Recommended (7)
Paracas: Sunset Trekking Tour & Playa Roja Cliffs Walk★ 4.96 (99) · 5hUS$ 40View ›
Ballestas Islands & Paracas: Cruise Port Day Tour Pickup★ 4.66 (87) · 4h 30mUS$ 100View ›
Paracas National Reservation Paragliding Flight 5–10 min★ 4.87 (85) · 1h 30mUS$ 108View ›
Paracas: Mini Buggy Desert & Beaches 2-Hour Drive★ 4.80 (40) · 2hUS$ 45View ›
Ballestas Islands & Paracas Reserve Day Trip: See the Candelabra geoglyph★ 4.08 (37) · 7hUS$ 34View ›
Paracas National Reserve Tour: Desert and Sea in 3.5 Hours★ 4.97 (30) · 3h 30mUS$ 60View ›
Ballestas Islands tour: Penguins & sea lions from Paracas★ 4.77 (22) · 2hUS$ 20View ›Lowest price (4)
Ballestas Islands & Paracas Reserve tour: Boat & beachesA full-day tour from Ica combining a motorboat trip to the Ballestas Islands and a land visit to Paracas National Reserve, with hotel pickup, guide and transport included. The boat departs at 8:30 a.m. from El Chaco Pier after a morning drive from your hotel, giving you roughly two hours on the water to observe sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds in their colonies, plus views of the Candelabra geoglyph from the sea. After landing, you explore three beaches—Playa Roja, Playa Lagunillas and Playa La Mina—where the desert meets the ocean and swimming is possible if conditions allow. The tour ends at Plaza de Armas in Ica, or you can arrange to finish in Paracas instead.Is it for me?Book this if you're based in Ica and want both the boat trip to Ballestas Islands and the reserve's beaches in one day—the early 6:30 a.m. start and 10-hour commitment let you see everything without splitting it across separate trips.
Drive a MiniBuggy through Paracas National ReserveDrive a minibuggy yourself through Paracas National Reserve on Peru's south coast, stopping at Playa Yumaque, Playa Roja, and the Istmo viewpoint over 2 hours with an official guide. The reserve entrance fee (11 soles for adults, 8 for children) is paid at the checkpoint; helmets and safety instruction are provided before you start.Is it for me?You drive the minibuggy yourself, which means you control the pace and can stop for photos whenever the landscape demands it—suited to travelers who want hands-on control rather than watching from a passenger seat. The 2-hour window fits a half-day plan without eating a full afternoon.
Paracas National Reserve Private Tour from ParacasA private guided tour of Paracas National Reserve departing from Paracas or Pisco with hotel pickup and drop-off, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, and stops at the interpretation center, the Cathedral rock formation site, and the coastal village of Lagunillas. The reserve protects 216 bird species, 16 mammals, 10 reptiles and 193 fish across 3,350 square kilometres of desert, ocean and islands. Minimum two people per booking; the tour runs 2.5 hours.Is it for me?If you're staying in Paracas or Pisco without a rental car, the private pickup means you don't coordinate transport separately—the driver collects you from your hotel and returns you there, so the morning stays simple even if you're new to the area.
Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve tour from ParacasA full-day tour from Paracas that combines a two-hour boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands—home to sea lions, migratory birds and Humboldt penguins—with a guided visit to Paracas National Reserve, where you walk to the Cathedral rock formation, visit Red and Yumaque beaches, and stop at Flamencos viewpoint. Hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English and Spanish. National park entrance and meals are separate.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want both the marine wildlife of the Ballestas Islands and the coastal geology of Paracas National Reserve in a single day—the fixed itinerary and included guide mean the two parts connect without you arranging transport between them or navigating the reserve on your own.
