BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR

SEE PENGUINS, SEA LIONS, FUR SEALS AND LOTS OF SEABIRDS ON THIS BOAT TOUR. AND
ALSO SEE THE MYSTERIOUS SYMBOL CARVED INTO THE CLIFF CENTURIES AGO

TOUR DESCRIPTION:

The Ballestas Islands is a vibrant and colorful wildlife sanctuary that is filled with wild birds and mammals, including sea lions, fur seals, and endangered Humboldt penguins. During this two hour boat tour you will come face-to-face with these animals in their natural habitation while you are onboard a speedboat. On rare occasions, it is even possible to see dolphins and whales. Obviously, this tour is a spectacular choice for animal lovers and birdwatchers.

In addition to the animals named above, a wide range of seabirds also call these rocky islands their home. You may see and hear pelicans, boobies, red-footed Guanay cormorants, and many other types of birds.

Early in the 20th century, the guano (bird droppings) from all these birds was collected and sold as fertilizer. Due to the vast quantities of this valuable substance, this became a major source of revenue for businesses on the coast.

During this tour, you can observe a mysterious geoglyph, similar to the Nazca Lines, that was carved into the face of a cliff over 1,000 years ago. This symbol is called The Candelabra, and it remains the source of much speculation and debate. It likely was created by the Paracas tribe living in the coast at that time, for reasons unknown.

For this tour we can pick up passengers in PARACAS, or we can pick them up in HUACACHINA / ICA and transport them to Paracas. For pricing for these options, see below.

Ballestas Islands photographs

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR:

+ Pickup at your hotel in PARACAS or HUACACHINA / ICA depending on the price you selected
+ Transport to the dock in Paracas
+ Two-hour Ballestas Islands boat tour, with english-speaking tour guide
+ High-quality speedboat that has been well-maintained and is in excellent condition
+ Life jacket and other nautical safety / emergency equipment

NOT INCLUDED:

+ Entrance fee (13 soles per person)
+ Tips for the pilot or guide (optional)

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD I BRING ON THIS TOUR?

These items are important; bring them with you:

+ 13 soles per person for the entrance fee
+ Cameras (optional)
+ Sunglasses (optional)
+ A sweatshirt (optional, it can be chilly in the early morning)
+ Sunscreen / hats
+ Money for tips for tour guide or pilot (completely optional)

DEPARTURE TIMES AND TOUR DURATION:

If you are staying at a hotel in Paracas, or being picked up from the Paracas bus station, your pick-up time will be 7:40 AM. Then your tour will be from 8:00 AM - 10:15 AM.

For those passengers who are being transported from Huacachina or Ica, you will be picked up at your hotel at 6:30 AM. Paracas is one hour north of Huacachina and Ica, so we need to provide enough time to safely arrive without rushing. Your tour will be from 8:00 AM - 10:15 AM. Then we will return to Huacachina by around 12:00 PM.

WHY CHOOSE NAZCA FLIGHTS FOR THIS TOUR?

The major two reasons to choose us are safety, and quality.

We only work with boat companies and pilots who have an excellent safety record, and who maintain and take care of their boats. Noone wants to be stuck in the middle of the ocean because a company used low-grade fuel or cut corners when they should have been maintaining their boat. By choosing NazcaFlights, you are guaranteed a tour that is enjoyable and on-board a high-quality well-maintained boat.

USEFUL SUGGESTIONS

There are no bathrooms onboard the speedboats in Paracas, so it is important to use the bathroom before your tour starts (bathrooms are available in Paracas) or after your tour finishes.

We recommend wearing sunscreen due to the harshness of the UV light on this part of the continent.