Ballestas Islands All-Inclusive Tour from Paracas: Is It Worth It?
Most Ballestas boat trips ask you to find your own way to the pier and pay a few extras along the way. The ballestas islands all inclusive tour does the opposite — it picks you up from your hotel, hands you an English audio guide and a live bilingual guide, and walks you straight past the queue through a separate entrance, all for around $18. It is the cheapest tour on this whole site and, for travelers who value a smooth morning over a few dollars saved, it is the easiest one to recommend. To see how it stacks up, compare every Ballestas Islands tour from Paracas, then read why this one wins on value.
About This Activity
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Pickup from 55+ Paracas hotels — no need to find the pier
Round-trip from the Paracas port
Live guide in English and Spanish, plus an English audio guide
Sea lions, Humboldt penguins, dolphins, guano birds
Board through a separate entrance
Check Live Availability & Prices
At around $18 with hotel pickup included, this is the best-value Ballestas Islands tour in Paracas — and the morning departures are the first to fill. Check the calendar for open dates.
Why Book the All-Inclusive Ballestas Islands Tour
Everything bundled into one low price
What makes this tour 'all inclusive' is not extra stops — it is the convenience. Hotel pickup from more than 55 Paracas hotels means you skip the walk to the pier; the English audio guide fills in the details the live guide cannot cover in two languages; and a separate boarding entrance gets you on the water without the queue.
With a 4.8-star average from 187 reviews, run by South Americans Secrets, it is consistently rated as the smoothest budget option in Paracas.
Best for first-timers and stress-free mornings
If it is your first time in Paracas and you do not want to figure out the logistics, this is the trip. You get the same two-hour route to the Ballestas Islands as the pricier tours — the Candelabra, the sea lions, the penguins — but with someone handling the small details. Several reviewers single out how accommodating the team is, even shifting pickup times to fit early buses.
What You'll See on the All-Inclusive Ballestas Tour
The wildlife and the Candelabra, in order
The route is the classic Ballestas loop, and the audio guide means you will not miss the story behind each sight. Expect to see:
- The Paracas Candelabra geoglyph, viewed from the water on the way out
- Large colonies of South American sea lions on the rocks
- Humboldt penguins nesting along the cliffs
- Dolphins on lucky mornings, often on the crossing
- Thousands of guano birds, boobies and pelicans
- The rock arches and caves of the protected marine sanctuary
What Is Included — and What You Should Still Bring
Included in the tour price
- Hotel pickup from participating Paracas hotels (55+ on the list) - Round-trip speedboat ride to the Ballestas Islands - Live bilingual guide (English and Spanish) - English audio guide on board - Skip-the-line boarding through a separate entrance - Life vest and safety equipment - Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Not included — plan for these
- The small dock tax paid locally at the pier (a few soles — bring coins) - A windproof jacket — the open boat is cold and breezy - Food and drinks (it is a short trip; bring water if you like) - Gratuity for the guide and crew - Paracas National Reserve entry — this is a boat-only tour; the reserve is a separate add-on
What Happens on This Tour — Step by Step
Important Things to Know Before You Go
What to bring
- A windproof or waterproof jacket — the open speedboat is cold and breezy - Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat you can secure against the wind - A camera or phone in a strap or pouch - A few soles in coins for the dock tax - Seasickness tablets if you are prone to motion sickness, taken before boarding - Confirm your exact pickup time and that your hotel is on the list when you book
Not allowed, and who should skip it
There are no landings on the islands; feeding or touching the wildlife is not permitted and the boat keeps a respectful distance.
The tour is not suitable for heavily pregnant travelers, anyone with serious back or neck problems, or those who suffer badly from seasickness, as the speedboat bounces over the swell. On rare occasions the Ballestas themselves are closed for high seas — operators then run an excellent alternative route to White Island, and you are still refunded if a trip is fully cancelled.
Where the Tour Departs — Paracas Port
Who Is This Tour For?
Ideal for
- Budget travelers who still want hotel pickup and zero logistics - First-time visitors to Paracas who want a smooth, hand-held morning - Solo travelers and couples who like an audio guide for the extra detail - Anyone staying in a Paracas hotel on the pickup list - Travelers catching an onward bus who want the easiest possible departure
Not ideal for
- Travelers who also want the desert reserve — book a combo tour for that - Anyone staying outside Paracas town (confirm pickup coverage first) - People who suffer badly from seasickness without medication - Heavily pregnant travelers or those with serious back problems
What does 'all inclusive' actually mean on this tour?
It means the convenience extras are bundled in: hotel pickup, an English audio guide, a live bilingual guide and skip-the-line boarding — not extra destinations. The route is the standard two-hour Ballestas loop. Compare it with the combo tours that add the reserve.
How much does the all-inclusive Ballestas tour cost?
It starts at around $18 per person, which makes it the cheapest tour on this site, plus a small dock tax of a few soles paid at the pier. See how the other Ballestas Islands tours compare.
Is hotel pickup really included, and from where?
Yes — pickup is included from more than 55 Paracas hotels, from backpacker hostels to the Hotel Paracas. Confirm your hotel is on the list and your exact pickup time when you book. Browse all the Paracas tour options here.
What happens if the Ballestas Islands are closed?
Occasionally high seas close the islands themselves. When that happens, operators run an alternative route to White Island, which still delivers sea lions, birds and the Candelabra. If a trip is cancelled outright you are fully refunded. See the full range of tours.
Will I see dolphins and penguins?
Humboldt penguins are resident on the cliffs and seen on most trips; dolphins are wild and not guaranteed, but reviewers regularly report pods on the crossing. Sea lions and seabirds are a certainty. Check live availability.
What Travelers Say
Best value for money option available! The guide was great and we learned so much. We saw dolphins, sea lions, Humboldt penguins and loads of other flora and fauna. Ten out of ten.
Loved the tour — they are very accommodating. We initially booked for 10 am but our bus arrived early, so they picked us up from the bus station and fit us in at 9 am instead. Such a nice touch. Definitely recommend.
A cool day trip if you are around Paracas — we saw the penguins and the sea lions and the guide explained everything in both Spanish and English. Really insightful, and quite different from the rest of what you see in Peru.