Paracas National Reserve in Ica

Index

About Paracas National Reserve

In the Paracas National Reserve you can visit the beaches that are located there, the most popular are: Red beach, La Mina beach and El Raspón beach.

Red beach, it is called this way because the sand has a reddish color due to the mixture of the clay that comes from the earth’s crust (product of the volcanic activity that took place in this area thousands of years ago) and the minerals of the sand of the beach. The Red beach does not have an entrance and exit schedule so you can visit it whenever you want. You cannot swim or camp on this beach because its waters are not calm.

Playa El Raspón is my favorite of the beaches in the Paracas Reserve because it is the best preserved and has less travelers, although it is a little smaller than La Mina beach. Camping is not allowed at El Raspón beach and its entrance hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please note that at the entrance you will be asked to show the entrance ticket to the Paracas National Reserve. In this beach you will also find free toilets.

Playa la Mina, is one of the most popular beaches and very frequented by travelers (since the tourist agencies always take them there) this beach has an impressive clear emerald color and its waters are calm unlike El Raspón beach, although a little cold.

It is called “La Mina” because around the beach you can find rocky cavities that were formerly coal mines. Camping is not allowed in La Mina beach and its entrance hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please note that at the entrance you will be asked for the entrance ticket to the Paracas National Reserve. In this beach you will also find free restrooms.

Important: La Mina beach does not have access for people with limited capacity since it only has concrete stairs to access it.

What is the best season to visit the Paracas National Reserve?

The best season to visit the Paracas National Reserve is between the months of December and March because the waters are warm and the heat is delicious but intense. For those who prefer less travelers, but still want to enjoy the good season, I suggest visiting the Reserve in September until the beginning of December.

La Mina Beach, Paracas National Reserve, Paracas – Ica

El Raspón Beach, Paracas National Reserve, Paracas – Ica

How to get to the Paracas National Reserve?

• On your own

The most practical way to get to the Paracas Reserve and enjoy its beaches is by road, walking is not recommended because it is very far from the city of Paracas and you can suffer a heat wave, also there is no public transportation to take you to the reserve, so here are the options:

By bicycle

In the surroundings of Puerto del Chaco in Paracas you will find several bike rental stands, with which you can ride all over Paracas. You can even ride your bike to the Paracas National Reserve. The cost of the rental is between S/. 20 to 30 soles ( USD 6 to 9 dollars) per person and for the whole day. Click here to find out what more adventure and water sports you can do in Paracas.

On ATVs

Another way to get to the Paracas National Reserve, which is becoming very popular, is by 4 x 4 vehicles or also called ATVs. What is offered is a guided tour to the reserve through these vehicles. The cost of the tour is between S/. 50 to 70 soles ( USD 14 to 19 dollars) per person.

Click here to find out what more adventure and water sports you can do in Paracas .

By car

Traveling by car is the most convenient option if you want to have privacy and travel alone with your family, in case you do not have a car a good option is to rent one and reach the Paracas National Reserve quietly, you can also reach several of the tourist destinations in Ica and Paracas by road, so you would save on tourist service.

To the National Reserve of Paracas from the boardwalk of the Puerto del Chaco in Paracas by private road you will travel approximately 16.5 Km and you will arrive at the reserve in approximately 25 minutes.

Hiring a private cab service

A very popular option for travelers going in groups to the Paracas Reserve is to hire the services of cab drivers, who will take you to the beaches of the Reserve. Normally, the time they give you to enjoy the beaches of the Reserve is between 3 or 4 hours (previous coordination with the driver). The approximate cost is S/. 20 to 30 soles ( USD 5 to 9 dollars) per person, the cost will always depend on the season in which you visit the Paracas Reserve, if it is high season the prices go up approximately 10%.

You can buy your entrance tickets to the Paracas National Reserve at the entrance of the beach you want to visit or at a point of sale near the Puerto del Chaco in Paracas. The entrance fee to the Paracas National Reserve is S/. 11.00 soles (USD 3 dollars) per person (national or foreigner), usually children are allowed free.

Point of sale for tickets to the Paracas Reserve

ATENAS BACKPACKER, this place is located a few blocks from the Port of Chaco in Paracas. You can also buy your tickets at some of the tourist agencies around the Chaco Port.

• By tourist agency

Many tour agencies offer to visit the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve in one day, this is a good option for travelers who do not have much time to visit Paracas. The approximate cost of this service is between S/. 50 to 60 soles ( USD 14 to 18 dollars) per person. A disadvantage of this option is that you are only allowed to swim in the waters of the beaches for a maximum of 1 hour because a tour agency has a less flexible itinerary.

How long is the full day tour to Paracas National Reserve?

The full day (1 day) tour to the Paracas National Reserve lasts approximately 3 to 4 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 in one day, the approximate time of this tour is 6 hours for both destinations.

Puerto del Chaco, Paracas – Ica

La Mina Beach of the Paracas National Reserve, Paracas – Ica

Viewpoint of the Paracas National Reserve, Paracas – Ica

What to expect and how to prepare for the Paracas National Reserve?

The beaches of the Peruvian coast are a little bit colder due to the natural currents coming from the south of Peru.

La Mina and El Raspón beaches have entrance and exit hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

At the entrance of the Paracas National Reserve you can buy your entrance tickets.

At the entrance of La Mina and El Raspón beach you will be asked for the entrance ticket to the Paracas Reserve, you should have it at hand.

At La Mina beach there are free toilets, at the other beaches you have to pay for the toilets.

Bring sunscreen, swimwear and sunglasses.

Towels and sarongs for the sand.

You can bring umbrellas and chairs, I recommend this if you stay for several hours, normally with the tours you don’t need to bring this equipment since the time is limited (1 hour).

Bags to keep towels, wet clothes and garbage (let’s take care of the beaches).

Binoculars, I use them a lot to see wild animals in their natural habitat.

Bring a windbreaker because the Paracas winds are freezing, do not be confident, bring something to keep you warm, especially if you stay for many hours.

Bring water protection for your cell phone and other electronics that are not waterproof.

What else to do in Paracas?

Here I show you the most popular experiences in Paracas and Ica.

Water sports

Adventure sports

Wine tourism