Paracas – Breathtaking views between desert and ocean

Paracas is a small village on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Peru. It’s a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Go on a boat trip or enjoy the vast expanses of the national park, when waves are crushing into the rocks.

1. Basic Information about Paracas

From Lima, we drove about 3 hours to Paracas, about 220km/150 miles. It’s our second stop in our Peru itinerary and is located just 15km south of Pisco, the city that gives its name to Peru’s national drink. Paracas has about 3,000 inhabitants and the city itself has not much to offer. But with its relaxed vibes, this Pacific town has a surprising variety of activities to choose from. It is the starting point for excursions to the Paracas National Reserve and the Islas Ballestas, Peru’s mini Galapagos.

2. Where to stay and eat

The most popular hostel in Paracas is by far the Kokopelli. It is right on the beach and has a pool, ping pong table, and a cool outdoor area. In the evening there are usually parties and you meet many backpackers here. You can also see magical sunsets over the Pacific Ocean here.

Unfortunately, all the private rooms were fully booked during our stay, so we had to book two different dorms. Kathi was luckier because she stayed in a deluxe women’s dorm that was only half full, while Kevin had to stay in a full 12-person dorm. On average, we paid $12 per person per night in the dorm.

Be sure to eat at one of the seafood restaurants near the harbor. It can not be fresher than here. We tried the Cevicheria „Rustikrreta“ and loved it.

3. Paracas National Reserve

The reserve was founded in 1975 and is Peru’s oldest marine reserve. It covers more than 3,350 square kilometers (one of the biggest desert reserves in South America) and is home to over 400 species of flora and fauna. The main function of the reserve is to preserve the marine life ecosystem. The coastline is imposing and the beaches are unique. Playa Rosa is the most famous one because of its reddish color. The coast reminded us of the Algarve in Portugal but we had never seen a red beach before. The mix of the red sand, the yellow dunes, and the blue ocean were jawdropping.

A bus trip from Paracas town to the National Reserve is already included with your Peruhop ticket. If you don’t use Peruhop you can either take a bus, a quad, or a bike to explore the national park on your own. Usually, a trip here costs about 15$. We recommend rather the quad because it was very windy and it is probably not fun with the bike.

At the end of the tour, we made a spontaneous stop. Our guide decided to turn off just before the town of Paracas near the Double Tree Hotel so that we could see a colony of pink flamingos in the wild. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

4. Islas Ballestas

The marine life is best seen on a trip to Islas Ballestas, which are also called the „poor men’s Galapagos“. They are a group of rocky islands, where you can find the penguins (even the endangered Humboldt one), sea lions, humpback whales, and dolphins.

So the second must-do activity in Paracas is a boat tour. In total it takes you two hours. For the tour, we paid about 12$ per person. We saw penguins, sea lions and a lot of different species of birds. For us it was the first time to see all of those animals in their natural habitat, so it was really worth it.

Pro tip: Make sure you have a seat on the left side of your boat, because the boat goes counterclockwise around the islands and you are usually closer to the action.

After 20 minutes of the trip, you will see the El Candelabro, a huge sand sculpture, similar to those of the Nazca Lines. Sailors have used the lines as a landmark for centuries.

It looks like a candlestick or is it rather a cactus? There are several theories as to how these lines were formed, but nobody knows how it appeared. It stays there because it nearly never rains (half an hour in two years) and the wind comes from the other side of the hill.

After another 20 minutes, the boat reaches the islands with all the animals. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see any humpback whales, but maybe you’re luckier than us.

After Paracas, you will be on your way south to Ica and Huacachina, South America’s only desert oasis. If you want to know more about that, just click here. If you want to check out the whole Peru itinerary, follow this.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the Paracas Peninsula in Peru is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Its rich history, ecological diversity, and different activities make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking both adventure and tranquility. It’s also the perfect first stop on your way from Lima to the South.

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