Ballestas Islands and Paracas Candelabrum
Index
The Ballestas Islands are an ecosystem that is home to a great variety of wildlife, including Humboldt penguins, sea lions, guano birds and, if you are lucky, even dolphins. Visiting these islands allows you to connect with nature as a friendly spectator and appreciate the importance of caring for wildlife. A priceless experience that can thrill even the most hardened human being.
Also on the way to the Ballestas Islands you will see the 2500 year old 180 meter high Candelabro de la Cultura Paracas, an image of the imposing pre-Inca culture that existed hundreds of years ago in Paracas.
How to get to the Ballestas Islands?
To get to the Ballestas Islands you will need to take a boat from Puerto del Chaco to the islands. Here is all the information on how to visit the Ballestas Islands on your own or through a tourist agency.
On your own
To get to the Ballestas Islands on your own I suggest you follow the following steps:
First step: buy 2 tickets to enter the Ballestas Islands, one is the ticket for the right to use the pier which costs S/. 5 soles (USD 1.20 dollars) per person (national or foreigner), the other is the entrance ticket to the islands and islets of Paracas, which has a cost of S/. 11 soles (USD 2.80 dollars) per person (national or foreigner).
Tip: if you want to visit the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve in one day, you have the option to buy a promotional ticket, which includes the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve for the amount of S/. 17 soles (USD 4.5 dollars) per person (national or foreigner), but if you plan to visit those places in different days you will have to pay S/. 11 soles (USD 2.80 dollars) for each entrance, for a total of S/. 22 soles (USD 5.80 dollars) per person.
The mentioned tickets are not sold out, but each ticket contains an approximate departure time of the boats, so you must comply with that schedule.
Point of sale of the tickets to the Ballestas Islands
ATENAS BACKPACKER, this place is located a few blocks from the Port of Chaco, where you will take the boat to the Ballestas Islands. You can also buy your tickets in some tourist agencies that are located around the Port of Chaco.
Second step: after buying your tickets you will have to go to a tourist agency to buy your tickets for the boat, these tickets necessarily have to buy them in a tourist agency because they are the ones who rent the boats for travelers to reach the Ballestas Islands, the cost of the ticket is between S/. 20 to 35 soles (USD 5 to 10 dollars) per person or child (if this occupies a seat), the cost is for round trip. You do not disembark in the Ballestas Islands, you will be able to appreciate the islands from the boat.
Tip: the tickets are cheaper if you buy them early in the morning since there is less affluence of travelers. You will find many tourist agencies very close to Puerto del Chaco.
By tourist agency
Hiring the services of a tourist agency is also a very good option to travel without the stress of worrying about the tickets, the transportation you will have to take and the tourist guide. The approximate cost is S/. 60 to 100 soles (USD 16 to 28 dollars) per person, which normally includes the visit to the Paracas National Reserve. Some travel agencies do not include the entrance fee to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve.
How long is the full day tour to the Ballestas Islands?
The full day tour to the Ballestas Islands lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours, I suggest you take the tour very early in the morning so you will have the whole afternoon free. In addition, you can also opt for the “Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve” tour option in one day, the approximate time of this 2 destination tour is about 6 hours .
Is the Ballestas Islands tour suitable for children?
According to my experience, the Ballestas Islands tour is suitable for children from 4 years old onwards.
On our last trip to the Ballestas Islands we met a young couple with a baby in their arms and apparently the baby did not have a good time because he was crying all the way to the islands, maybe because of the speed of the boat his ears were blocked (this is very common, even in adults) and, in addition, the sea breeze is strong and very cold and that can affect a baby.
On the other hand, big kids enjoy this activity very much, the last time I visited the Ballestas Islands with my 5 year old nephew, he was impressed with the marine fauna and the gigantic boats that were very close to the Ballestas Islands.
