Tours and Tickets to Experience Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas)

There are plenty of ways to experience the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas). Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Huacachina Oasis & Mini-Galapagos! Most reviewed company in Peru!
• Full day in Paracas Ica and Huacachina from Lima (From Lima)
• Paracas, Ica and Huacachina with Buggies and Sandboard (From Lima)
• Full Day Tour from Lima: Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve
• 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard

While there's no fee to visit the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas), you must pay to get there. Boat tours start from around US$20–25 per passenger for a short tour, but prices can easily double or triple if you spend a whole day exploring. Tours that include transportation from Lima run around US$130–145.

Yes, visiting the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas) is worth it—thanks to the biodiverse wildlife and dramatic coastal setting, they’re often hailed as Peru’s answer to the Galapagos Islands. The islands are easily accessible by boat from the fishing town of Paracas and you’re likely to see wildlife year-round.

Yes, there are ample guided tours of the Ballestas Islands. Most depart from Lima and include a wildlife-watching speedboat ride around the Pacific Ocean islands. Many tours also visit the desert town of Huacachina—famous for the green oasis in its center—for sandboarding and dune buggy adventures.

The Ballestas Islands are home to huge colonies of South American sea lions and fur seals, who can be seen lounging on the rocky, sun-soaked shores. The islands are also a birdwatcher’s paradise; bird species include guanays, Humboldt penguins, Inca terns, Peruvian boobies, pelicans, and kelp gulls.

While you can see wildlife at the Ballestas Islands year-round, the best time to visit is from June to September, when the weather is dry and sea conditions are ideal for boat rides. Sea lion calving season runs from January and March, when you’re likely to spot cute cubs.

Yes, you can combine the Ballestas Islands with Paracas National Reserve, where landscapes are characterized by terracotta cliffs, crashing waves, and some spectacular beaches. The town of Pisco is just a 30-minute drive away, which is surrounded by the vineyards and distilleries that create Peru’s famous grape brandy, the main ingredient in the pisco sour cocktail.

When visiting the Ballestas Islands, you should wear closed-toe shoes with a good grip, so you can climb on and off the boats with ease. Ensure you pack a hat and sun protection, as many of the boats aren’t covered for wildlife viewing. This coastal area is also extremely windy, so take layers even if the temperature is warm.