This exclusive Ballestas Islands tour and Paracas National Reserve is designed specifically for cruise ship passengers arriving at San Martín Port. By booking this amazing tour with us, you avoid the stress and uncertainty of last-minute arrangements—we provide a seamless, port-to-port service, with pick-up and drop-off just steps from your ship. Our team has extensive experience handling shore excursions with precision and care, ensuring you’re back on time and fully satisfied. Forget about crowded cruise tours and overpriced options—we offer a smooth, efficient, and professional experience, tailored to your ship’s schedule.
Book with confidence and enjoy a worry-free adventure with a trusted local operator.
Tour Options
Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL
Pickup included
Itinerary
Admission not included120 min
Our Ballestas Islands tour starts with pick-up directly at San Martín Port, just metres from your ship. From there, we’ll transfer you to the tourist pier in Paracas for the boat tour to the Ballestas Islands, including a view of the famous Candelabro geoglyph. During the boat ride, you'll observe incredible wildlife such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and a variety of seabirds. Please note this is a natural reserve, and wildlife sightings are not controlled or guaranteed. Before boarding the boat, there is a mandatory tourist entrance fee of $7 USD per person. After the boat tour, we’ll take a short 40-minute break for restrooms and refreshments.
Admission not included2 min
The Paracas National Reserve land tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and begins after a short break following the Ballestas Islands tour. We’ll explore the most iconic sites of the reserve, including ancient marine fossils, the dramatic Supay viewpoint, the remains of the famous Cathedral rock formation, the panoramic Isthmus of the Peninsula, and the stunning Red and Yumaque beaches. You’ll also have the option to visit the Paracas museum (entrance not included). This tour involves some light walking, so please inform us in advance of any physical limitations. We guarantee a timely and stress-free return to San Martín Port.
Highlights
Modern Speedboat for Ballestas Islands
Transportation for land tour.
Bottle of Water
English speaking tour guide
Modern Bus for all transfers.
Pickup and drop-off from/to San Martin Port Pisco
Life jacket and aall safety equipment.
What's included
Included
Modern Speedboat for Ballestas Islands
Transportation for land tour.
Bottle of Water
English speaking tour guide
Modern Bus for all transfers.
Pickup and drop-off from/to San Martin Port Pisco
Life jacket and aall safety equipment.
Not included
Personal travel insurance
Food and drinks, unless specified
Islas Ballestas & Paracas Reserve
Tips are not include
Pickup Locations & Times
All our shore excursions in Pisco start directly from the San Martín Port—no need to take the cruise shuttle service. Our team will be waiting for you right at the port entrance from 8:00 AM onwards. We operate our own modern, comfortable buses exclusively for our clients, and we are fully authorised with all the required permits to enter the port and carry out tourist operations safely and professionally. We also guarantee your timely return to the ship, so you can relax and enjoy your excursion with complete peace of mind. Book with confidence—our reliable service ensures a seamless experience from the moment you disembark.
Traveller Ratings
4.7
87 reviews
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Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL lasts about 4h 30min. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $100 per person for this Paracas experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. All our shore excursions in Pisco start directly from the San Martín Port—no need to take the cruise shuttle service. Our team will be waiting for you right at the port entrance from 8:00 AM onwards. We operate our own modern, comfortable buses exclusively for our clients, and we are fully authorised with all the required permits to enter the port and carry out tourist operations safely and professionally. We also guarantee your timely return to the ship, so you can relax and enjoy your excursion with complete peace of mind. Book with confidence—our reliable service ensures a seamless experience from the moment you disembark. Pickup points include CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-o0AXGEKPN4wJ9sIG0RAn5JwBukS0dcfOX88OrJFJpxHxTYkRy0Ue/OzCcO3U5L2O.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(87)
A
AlwaysForever
April 26, 2026
Excellent tour and value
This excursion was excellent in every way. The bus was amazingly nice and was parked very close to the exit from the ship. It took us to Pisco, where we boarded a very nice boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. We saw many different types of wildlife, often pointed out by our guide. We returned to the dock and took the bus on a tour of the Paracas Reserve. I wish we had more stops and time there, but it was a nice introduction. We were then returned to the bus parking very close to our cruise ship. Our guide had very good English and a good knowledge of the history and the area. The price was a fraction of the price of the same tour with the cruise line. I highly recommend JD Adventure Travel for this tour.
J
John_S
April 20, 2026
Scenic Boat Rise
This was a wildlife tour. It consisted of a boat ride out to some islands populated by a lot of birds, a few penguins, and sea lions. Unfortunately, the public address system on the boat was very poorly used by the guide such that it was very difficult to understand the narration of the tour and discussion about what we were seeing. But there were many opportiunities to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
S
Steve_W
April 4, 2026
Great Way to see Ballestas Island and Paracas National Reserve
A great tour of Ballestas Island and Paracas National Reserve. Great option for cruise passengers because they pick you up and drop you off at the pier. Otherwise you have to take a shuttle into town about 30 minutes away. Company communication was excellent, told time and where pick up would be. Ballestas Island is about 25 minutes away by boat and it will be windy along the way. Island is fascinating with sea lions, penguins, and lots of birds. Along the way you stop to see the Candelabro which is a carving on the side of a hill. The bus ride in Paracas National Reserve is very interesting too. Looks like you're on Mars with the scenery. Hike up to the top on the lookout, you get a better overall view.
Operator response
Thank you very much for your lovely review!
We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve. It’s great to know that the pick-up and drop-off at the pier made things easier during your cruise stop, and that our communication helped everything run smoothly.
The wildlife at the Ballestas Islands is always fascinating, and we’re glad you enjoyed seeing the sea lions, penguins and the many seabirds. The stop at the Candelabro of Paracas is certainly one of the most intriguing sights along the coast as well.
We also appreciate your comments about the landscapes in the Paracas National Reserve. Many visitors say it feels like being on another planet, and the viewpoint hike truly offers a spectacular perspective of the desert meeting the ocean.
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Peru in the future!
M
Mark_H
March 29, 2026
Don’t miss a trip to Ballestas Islands
The boat trip to Ballestas Islands was brilliant! Approx. 50 seater powerful boat takes you along the coast to the islands, spotting wildlife on the way. The islands are full of bird & sea life and the boat takes you up close. A really great trip not to be missed. Our guide was Olenka, very professional, knowledgeable & fun. We went on to the Paracas national reserve, well worth a visit to see the landscapes & coastline. Highly recommended. P.S.The port pickup directly from a cruise ship works very well & communication before the trip from the tour co. was spot on.
J
J_S
March 29, 2026
Sea Animal Tour
What a wonderful tour. Lots of birds, sea lions, & penguins on these gorgeous islands.We even saw a whale. Sea Lion “Nursery Beach” was a highlight. Loved it all.
E
Edward_A
March 27, 2026
Great Day seeing wildlife
We received detailed information the day before the tour which was great. We had to be shuttled out of the port because apparently the coach bus didn’t get their paperwork to enter the port. The tour was good and we were able to take pictures and Brenda was very informative. I was amazed that we had the 3 stops in the Reserve so we could take pictures. I will tell others about this tour!
S
Sue_H
March 26, 2026
Great tour
This was a great tour of Ballestas Islands and paracas nature reserve.
The captain of the boat made sure that he turned the boat around plenty of times so that everyone could see everything well. We didn't see many penguins so he decided to take us to another outcrop of rocks where we saw some more.
The nature reserve was stunning. The stops for taking photos and an excellent informative guide.
J
jeffrey_l
March 26, 2026
Boat tour great second part boring
Very difficult to understand guide heavy accent. Pick up was confused due to improper paper work by driver
R
Richard_L
March 26, 2026
Don’t miss it!
Very enjoyable all around. Great guide. We saw pelicans, Penguins, sea lions, baby sea lions!, Cormorants, and a whale. My wife was thrilled! She said it was one of the most exciting nature tours we’ve been on.
V
Veliger1
March 23, 2026
Great land and sea tour in a remote port
Great combo of land and sea. Seeing the Candelabra geoglyph on the boat ride out to the islands was fascinating. Lots of wildlife- sea lions, birds and even a couple of Humboldt penguins- seen on Ballestas Islands and the Mars-like landscape with red sand beach at the National Park was awe-inspiring.
The guide was excellent and the captain circled around/slowed down so that everyone could get good photos from the boat.
It would have been nice to have had a little more time in Paracas to sample seafood and drinks before returning to the ship.
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Ballestas island & Paracas reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL
