Islãs Ballestas, also know as the poor man’s Galapagos, is a small group of islands not far from Paracas. Should you find yourself in Paracas I would recommend signing up for a boat tour out to them! You will get to see penguins, sea lions, and sooo many birds! While I am sure this 2 hour boat tour can’t compare to the real Galápagos Islands; it is nice to have a more affordable and slightly quicker option available.
There are two Islas Ballestas departure times (8 a.m. and 10 a.m.) to choose from when booking the tour online (here). Since Hector and I were taking Peruhop and only wanted to spend one night in Paracas we had to take the early option. We met at Frayles Residencial Hotel 15 minutes before 8 a.m. From there we set off on the short walk over to the port. We actually nearly missed the tour because we were running behind that morning.
A LOT of tour companies seem to offer the tour at the port so I do not think booking in advance is a requirement. Although, come to think of it, it was a bit hectic over there so it may help to book in advance…We paid about $15 a ticket but I did hear someone say if you book at the port you can get it for $12. The 8 a.m. tour is also the more popular one since the winds pick up later.
Once on the boat you have to put on your life jacket or at least put it over your shoulders. It takes about 45 minutes to get out to the islands. On the way you get to stop and see ‘The Candelabra’. This prehistoric geo glyph dates back to 200 B.C and is etched 2 feet into the sand. Its origin is still a mystery but apparently you can see it from up to 12 miles away!
Our boat driver got so close to the rocks you could almost reach out and touch them (you could…but we didn’t!). We saw so many sea lions, just lounging on the rocks in the sun, birds covering the cliffs, and penguins waddling about. If you are very lucky you may catch a glimpse of a humpback whale! Each boat also comes with a guide. They are all bilingual so will explain everything to you in English and Spanish.
As you get closer you notice a certain smell…it is guano. They harvest it to make fertilizer. The area is actually protected as part of the National Reserve. However, they can still collect the guano, but under strict government regulations. You may even see some of the workers on the islands.
I would recommend sitting in the middle of the boat on the left. We sat near the back (on the left) and while I think the view is better, because the boats nose is not in your way, be prepared to get wet! I also feel like by sitting on the left we were closer to a lot of the wildlife. Make sure to take lots of pictures but don’t shriek, yell, or make any loud noise; you want to try and disturb the animals as little as possible.
We spent about 45 minutes exploring the islas Ballestas before heading back. Don’t forget sea sickness tablets if you get seasick. I don’t suffer from sea sickness and I felt the boat ride was pretty smooth but better to be safe than sorry. Also, make sure to pack/wear sunscreen and/or a hat and bring water. You are under the sun for a good 2 hours! You don’t want to burn or become dehydrated. Lastly, since there is a chance you may get wet maybe bring a dry bag for items that can’t get wet (camera) and a raincoat/poncho (if you want to stay dry).
Next up…the Paracas National Reserve. Stay tuned!
Buffy xx
