G
This was a terrific...
This was a terrific nature-based, scenic excursion at an affordable price. It was well organized and the guides were also excellent.
Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL
+20 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $50 / person
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 43 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 40
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 12, 2026Things to do in Paracas
Description
This exclusive Ballestas Islands tour is designed specifically for cruise ship passengers arriving at San Martín Port. By booking this 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
Itinerary
Your adventure begins right at San Martín Port, where we will collect you just metres from your ship’s gangway and transfer you comfortably to the Paracas tourist pier. From there, you’ll embark on a fascinating boat tour to the Ballestas Islands, with a scenic stop at the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph, etched into the coastal hillside. The Ballestas are part of a protected natural reserve and are home to an incredible variety of marine wildlife, including sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and dozens of seabird species. As this is a natural ecosystem, sightings may vary and are beyond our control. Entrance fee to the reserve is required and paid locally before departure. At the end of the tour, you may choose to explore Paracas town at your leisure or return with us on our private shuttle. Guests who wish to stay longer can easily return to port via the cruise shuttle, which operates every 30 minutes. Book with confidence, your comfort, safety, and timely return are our top priorities.
Highlights
We offer our own transport for all our clients for pick up and drop off from/to San Martin Port
Bottle of Water.
English speaking tour guide.
Life jacket and all safety equipment.
Modern SpeedBoat for Ballestas Islands.
Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port Pisco.
What's included
Included
We offer our own transport for all our clients for pick up and drop off from/to San Martin Port
Bottle of Water.
English speaking tour guide.
Life jacket and all safety equipment.
Modern SpeedBoat for Ballestas Islands.
Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port Pisco.
Not included
Food and drinks, unless specified.
Entrance fee for Ballestas Islands
Tips are not included
Travel Insurance.
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
4.6
43 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL take?
Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL cost?
Prices start at $50 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 Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL 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 Ballestas Islands tour from Pisco CRUISESHIP TERMINAL 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 40 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(43)
D
Very professional. Great value. Exciting
Booked this tour through Trip Advisor bc similar tour through Cruise Line was sold out. This tour was same exact tour (realized when we saw our ship mates) for less than half price. Picked up at Cruise ship and returned exactly on time. Guide spoke excellent English and both her and driver were very professional. Bus was clean and modern. Transferred to the boat and our Captain Oscar was amazing. Made sure both sides of the boat got a close up for pictures. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Saw seals, sea lions, lots of birds and even a couple whales thanks to Oscar who spotted the whales and got us a close up view without spooking them. I think it was 10/10.
C
Penguins!
Uncrowded boats, guide spoke good English. LOTS of wildlife and Penguins! Plus a thorough tour of the Balletas pointing out lots of extra goodies. Return trip included a trip to the National Park and a beautiful red sand beach.
W
Absolutely recommended
We have experienced an exemplary well organized tour. Thanks to the guide Marco we could see and learn a lot. Great!
J
Great day out. Didn’t see...
Great day out. Didn’t see many penguins or seals. Could be the time of year but still a great experience especially the side trip on the way back to the port. Highly recommend
K
Must do tour
We had the absolute best time on this tour. The information provided several days before we arrived was incredibly detailed. The tour guides on both the bus and the boat were fabulous This is a must do tour with a really caring company
G
Highly recommended - great communication and bonus
What a fantastic tour. Plenty of communication prior to the tour, and pick up from the cruise ship was as easy as they stated. Nice comfortable coach, complete with USB charging. Our tour guide made sure we all understood the directions, and we had adequate "free time" in town after the Island cruise. The sights out on the speed boat were spectacular - knowing our chances of seeing things was completely up to Mother Nature - she did not disappoint The additional sightseeing on the way back to the ship was a bonus and provided some excellent photo opportunities. I would highly recommend this tour!
D
Recommended
Serious and reliable tour operator. Everything on time and the ballet islands are worth a visit. But I recommend doing it in combination with the Paracas reserve on the same day
S
Not happy
This was a sham. From cruise port there was complimentary shuttle to take us to this place and back. We could have purchased the boat trip ticket right at the dock. The worst part is that this company just left us there, without knowing how we are supposed to get back to the ship (then we learned about the free shuttle). I should have demanded some refund! It happened last Nov. The boat tour (which is independent from this) was a fun experience. Just go to the dock and buy the ticket right there for less.
Operator response
Dear Sara, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, and we would like to clarify a few important points to provide better context for future travellers: Booking Options and Pricing: It’s absolutely true that travellers can choose to purchase tickets directly at the dock. However, please note that booking through third-party platforms such as Viator usually includes additional service and commission fees, which can increase the overall price. We always encourage guests to compare options to find what suits them best. Our Price vs Cruise Line Prices: While we understand that pricing is a concern, we would like to highlight that our tour remains competitively priced—often significantly lower than what is offered through cruise lines, which tend to mark up the same services by a large margin. Post-Tour Return Shuttle: At the conclusion of the boat tour, our team asked whether guests wished to return immediately via our own transport. In your case, you chose to remain at the port area, and we made sure to give you clear directions to the complimentary port shuttle service, which many cruise passengers use freely throughout the day. It’s important to note that the dock area is a busy and active tourism hub, with multiple companies and options available, which can sometimes create a bit of confusion, especially for first-time visitors. We always do our best to guide and inform our guests clearly and kindly. We truly regret that you felt unsupported, as our intention is always to ensure a smooth, enjoyable, and safe experience. We genuinely appreciate your comments, and we’ll continue improving communication at every stage of the tour. Warm regards, JD ADVENTURE TRAVEL
J
Stunning in every wsy
We really enjoyed our trip out to the islands to experience all the bird life and sea life up close and en mass. This was a very well organised trip which was a total delight from start to end.
Operator response
Thank you ever so much for your kind words! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your trip to the islands and had the chance to experience the incredible bird and sea life up close. It's wonderful to know that everything felt well organised and delightful from start to finish. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we’d be delighted to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
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