Paracas

Overview

The biggest attraction in Paracas is hopping on a boat to visit the Islas Ballestas or the Reserva Nacional de Paracas.

Most people visit the area on a day trip from Pisco with one of the numerous tours. From USD 7, they are pretty good value. You´ll see plenty of sea lions, guanay cormorants, pelicans and some penguins. The sea lions seem to be as interested in the tourists as vice versa.

Most tours offer a motor boat trip to the Islas Ballestas, passing on the way the Candelabro, a giant figure etched in the desert, similar to the ones found around Nazca.

Around lunch time, you´re either taken back to Pisco, or you can go on an afternoon trip around the coast of the Reserve, visiting some archeological points of interests, seeing lots of birds and go for a swim. A combined tour should get you a reduction, so bargain.

There is an excellent small museum at Paracas, with examples of some of the oldest textiles in the world. It also has some quite amazing deformed skulls.

History