Ballestas Islands

Wildlife Sanctuary

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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. 

Water Adventure

The Ballestas Islands constitute a habitat for a wide variety of birds and sea lions, which can be easily seen from a motorboat. The trip around the islands is one of the most popular from Paracas.

Source of Commerce

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.