Lima: Paracas Reserve, Slave Tunnels & Ballestas Islands Full Day
Description
Make the most of a full day from Lima: cruise the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands on a guided boat tour to look for sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and soaring seabirds, then continue into the dramatic Paracas National Reserve where desert drops into the Pacific. Close the day with a powerful visit to the historic Chincha Slave Tunnels. • Full-day tour from Lima: Ballestas Islands cruise & Paracas Reserve • Wildlife viewing opportunities - sea lions, penguins, and seabird cliffs • Iconic desert-meets-ocean viewpoints inside Paracas National Reserve • Guided visit to the Chincha Slave Tunnels; hotel pickup and drop-off included
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin with an early pickup from your hotel in Miraflores, San Isidro, or Barranco. Board your Peru Hop bus with onboard high-speed Wi-Fi and settle into a premium, air-conditioned coach with reclining semi-bed seats and an onboard restroom. Your friendly Peruvian host shares stories and tips as you trace the scenic Pan-American Highway toward Paracas, a peaceful fishing town on the Pacific.
Board a fast, comfortable boat for a 2-hour wildlife cruise. Skim past towering rock arches and the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph while watching for sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and a kaleidoscope of seabirds - and, with luck, playful dolphins. Skippers keep a respectful distance so you can enjoy natural behavior (wildlife sightings vary seasonally).
Enjoy a hands-on class where you’ll make, taste, and enjoy your very own Pisco Sour, Peru’s national cocktail, with views over the Paracas harbor.
You will have ree time to have lunch in one of the many restaurants of Paracas overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Join a guided bus tour inside one of South America’s largest protected desert reserves. Photograph red-sand cliffs, wind-carved headlands, and sweeping Pacific views where dunes meet turquoise water. Short walks to lookouts are rewarded with unforgettable panoramas.
Travel north aboard your Peru Hop bus to a historic hacienda to explore its underground tunnels, once used during the slave-trading era. Your guide shares context and stories that bring this difficult history to life. Some passages are narrow and have low ceilings; guests should be comfortable with enclosed spaces.
Relax aboard your comfortable Peru Hop bus with onboard high-speed Wi-Fi for the drive back to Lima - ideal for sharing your best Ballestas and Paracas photos on the way. Enjoy direct drop-off at your hotel in Miraflores, San Isidro, or Barranco. Typical arrival is around 10:30 PM (traffic and sea conditions can affect timing; Downtown drop-offs may be slightly later).
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
View the pickup list when booking to see if your hotel is included among the pickup points. If it is not on the list, choose “I'll decide later" or "My hotel is not on the list" and after booking let us know where you are staying. We will inform you whether we can pick you up directly at your hotel, or the nearest alternative. -Pick ups from hotels/hostels in San Isidro: between 4:50 am and 5:00 am -Pick ups from hotels/hostels in Miraflores: between 5:00 am and 5:40 am -Pick ups from hotels/hostels in Barranco: between 5:45 am and 6:00 am
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The bus will arrive back in Lima around 11:30 pm - midnight
- The Only company with Luxury Buses for the long journey, others use small vans
- Minimum age: 8 years old – Must have parents permission
- Recommended: Treking or tennis Shoes (no flipflops allowed), Sunglasses, Hat, Sunscreen, Drinking water, Windbreaker jacket & warm clothes.
- The tour runs with slight adjustments during the following holidays: Easter weekend (April 2-5) and Peru's Independence Day celebrations (July 27-29). The pick-up time will be 1 hour before the usual time.
Reviews(804)
We didn't really know what to expect when starting our journey with Peru Hop, and we're pleasantly surprised with how organized and fun everything was. Our guide, Nina, went above and beyond, from messaging us consistently about organizing our pickup in Lima, to making every step of our journey through Paracas worth remembering. We were super happy we chose to book with Peru Hop. If you come to Peru, traveling with them is a must in our book. Thank you Nina!
Bring a windscreen, raincoat. It's very cold and a lot of ventilation. The town of Paracas is not beautiful, but there is plenty of choice of restaurants for lunch.
Ana was extremely knowledgeable and exciting to be around she was very informative and a great time also will definitely book in the future.
Ballestas Island was beautiful with the sea lions and the penguins, the lunch at the restaurant at the vineyard was also quite good and included pisco tasting. The most memorable part for me was the Huancachina Oasis, where we rode a 4x4 and rode sandboards, which made it feel like I was on the set of the movie Dune, especially with the sunset. Our host Franklin from Peru hop was also extremely hospitable and friendly. The whole day trip was an unforgettable experience for me and my friends. There was no hidden fees such as entry fees, only food and drinks were not included. The trip was nicely paced across all activities, however there was a lot of travelling in the bus so people with motion sickness should take that into consideration. But other than that 9/10 would recommend.
Great guide, he has a good attitude and he took care of the group.
I would like you to organize tours with groups that have the same plans. We didn't want to do the buggy thing and that led us to wait more than 3 hours with 10 other people. If we were all on the same tour, we could have returned earlier.
The tour was amazing with Franklyn and Hannah as guides. The boat tour to Ballestas islands allow us to see penguins and sea lions in their natural habitat, it was spectacular! The tour inside the Paracas reserve was a nice surprise, not a famous Peruvian spots but definitely worth it. Finally the visit to Casa Hacienda was helpful to dive deep into slavery history and the African-Peruvian culture thanks to Hannah’s explanation. I strongly recommend this full day tour from Lima, hotel pickup and drop off are included while meals are not.
Expectations were met. Great impressions of nature, wildlife, and culture. Exceptionally friendly and attentive tour guides. (Gabriel and Juancho)
Hi Hubert, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re delighted to hear that your expectations were met and that you enjoyed discovering Peru’s incredible nature, wildlife, and culture. It’s wonderful to know that Gabriel and Juancho made your journey even more special with their friendliness, attentiveness, and dedication. We truly appreciate your kind words and will be happy to share your feedback with them. Thank you for choosing Peru Hop, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure through Peru soon!
Very good and very organized and the staff are very kind
Hi, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us. It’s wonderful to know that you found everything well organized and that our team helped make your journey even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recognition of our staff, and we’ll be sure to share your lovely feedback with them. We hope to welcome you again soon for more unforgettable adventures in Peru!
The tour was very informative. Historical wise and b coz of the influence of mixed cultures Peruvian shd be proud of their ancestral heritage.
Hi there, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Paracas experience and found the tour informative and enriching. Peru’s history and cultural heritage are truly unique, and we’re happy that the tour helped you learn more about the fascinating mix of influences that have shaped the country. Thank you for appreciating and celebrating Peru’s ancestral heritage with us. We hope to welcome you back soon for more memorable experiences and discoveries around Peru!
