Recently Viewed
Ballestas Islands Tour: Cruise Passenger Delight
4.7
33 Ratings
Paracas
Embark on a thrilling half-day group tour from San Martin Port to the Ballestas Islands. Discover a diverse array of marine life, including penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and more!
Embark on a thrilling half-day group tour from San Martin Port to the Ballestas Islands. Discover a diverse array of marine life, including penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and more!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Islas Ballestas - You will be met by our guide at 9:15am at San Martin Port, then you will be transferred to Paracas town, at this point you will meet the rest of the group and board our speedboat to begin the adventure to the stunning Ballestas Island. On the way you will stop at the Paracas peninsula to see the enigmatic figure of the…
- Islas Ballestas - You will be met by our guide at 9:15am at San Martin Port, then you will be transferred to Paracas town, at this point you will meet the rest of the group and board our speedboat to begin the adventure to the stunning Ballestas Island. On the way you will stop at the Paracas peninsula to see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. Nobody knows for sure who did it or why. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. Afterwards, you’ll head off to Ballestas Island, where you will see a stunning world filled with birds and sea lions. Here, you’ll visit the three islands at a distance allowed, navigating inside some caves, depending on the condition of the sea. On your return to the port, you will board our vehicle to drive back to San Martin port to re-join your ship.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
- All activities and transportation in group
- Pickup and drop-off from San Martin Port
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
- All activities and transportation in group
What's Not Included
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Opting for the Ballestas Islands tour directly from San Martín Port is the perfect choice for cruise passengers looking for a smooth and enriching shore excursion. The service starts just a few steps from the ship, removing the need for a cruise shuttle or additional transport. Tailored to align with cruise schedules, the tour ensures a timely return…
Opting for the Ballestas Islands tour directly from San Martín Port is the perfect choice for cruise passengers looking for a smooth and enriching shore excursion. The service starts just a few steps from the ship, removing the need for a cruise shuttle or additional transport. Tailored to align with cruise schedules, the tour ensures a timely return while providing a stunning encounter with nature. Within minutes, participants will reach the Paracas pier and set off on a boat trip to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, dolphins, and the famous Candelabra geoglyph carved into the coastal hillside. Run by a fully authorized local company with modern transport and knowledgeable guides, the tour promises comfort, safety, and a personal touch. Booking directly with the operator means no intermediaries, better value, and dedicated customer support throughout the experience.
- If your ship has a delay in arriving, we strongly suggest to notify us three to four days in advance so we can arrange a new pick up time. We also suggest you to keep checking your emails in case the pickup time changes.
- Printed travel voucher or E-travel voucher along with your passport or any ID its required before boarding (verification purpose only).
Location
Terminal Portuario General San Martín
All our tours depart directly from San Martín Port—no cruise shuttle needed. We use modern, authorised transport and guarantee your timely return. Our team awaits you at the port entrance from 6:00 AM. Enjoy a safe, smooth, and worry-free experience from ship to shore.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(33 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Stephen_c
Feb 14, 2025
Fun time watching wildlife - We had a great tour. It took about two hours total. The boat ride to the islands was about 30 minutes each way. We saw lots of birds, including penguins and pelicans. We also saw hundreds of sea lions. The guide seemed quite knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Fossil1
Dec 15, 2024
Outstanding trip, great value and excellent service - Booked the tour about a month before the cruise and the trip could not go any more smoothly. Price was outstanding and was about $200 less per person than the same tour offeered by Princess. Jose and his staff were at the pier as promised and took us for a short drive to the boat in Paracas for the tour bypassing several other groups that were waiting for their boat. His staff was excellent inculding our guide Olinka (sp?) who knew her stuff and was easy to understand. I must confess some apprehension as Princess warned us that independent operators could not enter the port area (false) though they alerted us to the same situation in Lima (Callao). He and his staff met us at the gangway in Paracas as promised. We did not see any independnet operators in Lima. Jose and his saff ushered through the entire boarding process and did the same when our boat returned.
The boat carrying approximately 40 people was in great condition and the cpatain did a wonderful job showing us the wildlife and guano fields. He made certain that both sides of the boat had ample opportunity to see the wildlife and take pictures. We had a brilliant sunny day and the canopy on the boat shielded us from the sun.
Highly recommended as Jose was responsive to several emails with detailed explanations. At the conclusion of the tours my wife decided to return back to the ship with their return transfer whike I stayed in gthe small town for lunch and shopping. His restaurant recommendation as spot on as well--Muna.
My only recommendation to the tour operator is that they encourage people to provide voluntary tips to both the guide and the boat captain. I was surprised that very few people and I mean very few people gave tips.
The trip was outstanding and I highly recommend the company--job very well done. If I return, I would book them again for other trips without any hesitation.
For those arriving by ship, book them!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileen_b
Dec 4, 2024
Great tour don’t miss it - Just a really fun tour best we had in the seventeen days we were gone. We saw Penguins, sea lions, some of the others saw whales, I missed that they were on the other side of the boat. The caves were so interesting to see what water can do to rock over the years. Great tour don’t miss this one.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_m
Jul 28, 2024
Great tour, highly recommended! - Great tour, fantastic communication and service. Boat ride was excellent, and we saw all the key things as promised.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_s
Apr 13, 2024
It was a great tour.... - It was a great tour. Thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. We did get to see 3 penguins and lots of sealions.
Review provided by Viator
Christin_c
Apr 7, 2024
Great views of marine life. - Had a wonderfully exciting and informative tour around the Islands to see marine life and unique rock formations. The boat was driven safely and allowed views for all passengers.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_c
Mar 25, 2024
Tour in March 2024 - The wildlife, scenery and candelabra were amazing. Weather was great.
The boats were clean, comfortable with life jackets on each seat.
Town had many restaurants and shopping stalls.
Review provided by Viator
Arthur_m
Mar 24, 2024
Worth the price - It was a great experience, however, the crowded and uncoordinated personnel at the dock was a mess. Waited over an hour to board boat. That’s not your fault though.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_r
Mar 9, 2024
Very Informational in every aspect of the area and a great value!!!! - Well, we really liked this excursion. We saw lots of animals. Sea lions, penguins, crabs and multiple breeds of birds. It smells like bird poop. They actually have an industry on these islands of gathering the poop for fertilizer, which was interesting. It was HOT while we were waiting. Not a lot of shade unless you get lucky to be under the tent. A little hectic because this area is where the natives go to take water taxis too. The price was a good price although you can get for cheaper when you get there but you're not guaranteed someone who speaks English. If you speak Spanish or at least know a little it would help. I knew a little but it was too little. The boat is covered so no need for a hat. The driver was great. He knew how to maneuver around for the least amount of splash or bumpiness. He also got us into spot to see better without hitting an rocks, which gave us even better views. The driver was very accommodating by turning the boat around to give everyone an opportunity to take pictures and videos from each side. You can't go wrong with using Viator. I will say it was a little chaotic when we got to the port where the boat for this excursion took off so just have some patience and find some shade. Heat tends to get people more frustrated. I'm going to say I went in February and I've been on a lot of cruises and around part of the world and this by far was the HOTTEST trip we took. We were in Chile for 11 days then a took a cruise up to Miami for 16 days. HOT/MUGGY with no relief even in the shade. I would recommend and I feel for a stress free excursion this is a good price and way cheaper than the cruise price.
Review provided by Viator
Rachel_g
Feb 29, 2024
Fabulous wildlife - Had a wonderful time on this trip. The captain of our boat did a great job spotting sealions well before we got to the islands, and we even saw a couple of Humboldt Penguins.
Pick up was nice and smooth from infront of the cruise ship, and we were given the option afterwards of staying in Paracas and taking the cruise shuttle bus back, so I even got to spend a bit of time in the little town.
Review provided by Viator
