Las Islas Ballestas
- Visit: about 2 h
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 3
1 / 3
Why go
- Blue-footed boobies, Peruvian pelicans and Inca terns on the rock islands
- The El Candelabro geoglyph, passed on the way out from Paracas
Opening hours
Today08:00 – 13:00Show all
With kids
- Sea lions often come close to the tour boats, so children can watch them from the boat.
Tips for your visit
- Bring a camera: the boat trip lets you see the wildlife up close.
- Read more about the islands at IslasBallestas.net before you go.
Best time to visit
- Pick a day when the weather allows, since boat trips run weather permitting.
- The site is open from 08:00 to 13:00, so a morning trip fits the opening hours.
Know before you go
- Open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 13:00.
- Boat trips run weather permitting, so the weather decides whether the trip goes ahead.
History
The area is now managed by SERNANP, the national protected areas service.
- Over centuriesGuano piles up naturally on the islands.
- 19th centuryMined guano is exported to Europe as fertiliser.
- mid-20th centuryGuano removal is regulated and done in organised collection campaigns.
- 2009A decree creates the protected area around the islands.
How to get there
- 120 minBoatTake a tour boat from the Paracas fishing port. The trip lasts about two hours.
- 30 minBoatA speedboat makes the trip in about half an hour, weather permitting.
Shorts
Interesting facts7
-
0.12 square
The whole group covers an estimated 0.12 square kilometres, and it is made up mostly of rock formations.
Ballestas Islands - Wikipedia -
Tourists informally call the islands the Galapagos du Pérou.
Îles Ballestas - Wikipedia -
4,000 sea
About 4,000 sea lions of the Otariidae family are counted here.
Îles Ballestas - Wikipedia -
A rare, endemic bird, the Taczanowski cinclodes, lives on the islands.
Îles Ballestas - Wikipedia -
1,000 tonnes
About 1,000 tonnes of guano are estimated per year, harvested every 7 years.
Îles Ballestas - Wikipedia -
22 islands
The reserve covers 22 islands and 11 guano-bird habitats along the coast from Piura to Moquegua.
Islas Ballestas - Wikipedia -
The southern island is also called Isla Piedra Redonda.
Islas Ballestas - Wikipedia
Sources: Ballestas Islands - Wikipedia · Islas Ballestas - Wikipedia · Îles Ballestas - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026
- Website
- islasballestas.net/
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How long does a boat trip to Las Islas Ballestas take?
A tour boat trip from Paracas takes about two hours. A speedboat makes the trip in about half an hour, weather permitting.
How do I get to Las Islas Ballestas from Paracas?
The islands are reached by boat from the Paracas fishing port. Boat trips run only when the weather allows.
What are the opening hours of Las Islas Ballestas?
The site is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 13:00.
Can children go to Las Islas Ballestas?
Children can join the boat trip. Sea lions often come close to the tour boats, so children can watch them from the boat.
What animals can you see at Las Islas Ballestas?
You can see Humboldt penguins, guanay cormorants, blue-footed boobies, Peruvian pelicans, Inca terns and sea lions. Fur seals also live there.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.