Back

Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands

per47-boat-trip-to-ballestas-paracas-free-vti

Take a trip to one of Peru's most important marine wildlife reserves, passing the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph etched in the desert sand.

Lying off the coast of Paracas, the Ballestas Islands are a habitat for lively colonies of sea lions, penguins and seabirds including albatrosses, boobies and pelicans. This was once the centre of the lucrative guano trade, but these days it’s more famous for the wildlife-watching boat trips that take you right up into a rocky territory where natural arches and caves provide shelter for thousands of marine animals and birds.

The boat will also pull up beside the Candelabra, a 200m etching in a sandy hillside that is thought to be over 2,000 years old. Reminiscent of the Nazca Lines, this huge geoglyph adds an air of mystery to a region steeped in natural beauty.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
PERU_MachuPicchuMountain_LMF_Free_04

Destination Guides

Climbing Machu Picchu Mountain
Learn more
BRA_Prawn Moqueca_Free_shutterstock_191025290

Food and Drink

Prawn moqueca
Learn more
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

Get in touch Meet our experts
  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

0 1 2 3 4 5