Ultimate Guide To Reserva Nacional De Paracas

Located just south of the city of Pisco, this nature reserve offers visitors spectacular red beaches, lively marine life and ancient archaeological sites. Enjoy Reserva Nacional de Paracas’ unique coastline and maybe a trip to Islas Ballestas—or “the poor man’s Galapagos”. Here’s your ultimate guide to the reserve.

The Paracas National Reserve, created in 1975, protects one of the world’s rarest ecosystems and one of the driest deserts on the planet. Its 335,000 hectares is 35 percent mainland and islands, and 65 percent marine waters with temperatures averaging around 75F (24C) degrees and sun almost all year round. While Peru isn’t well known for its beaches, the reserve holds perhaps Peru’s most beautiful.

Located along Peru’s southern coast, this national reserve is a protected area covering coastal water, islands and mainland sections. The rugged coastline makes for beautiful beaches. The most picturesque beach is Playa Roja, a beautiful red-sand beach and sparkling blue water offering sightseers a spectacular color palette. The beach of Lagunillas is a little fisherman’s village where you’ll find some fresh sea food and, of course, Peru’s delicious ceviche. La Mina beach is a short drive or walk south of Lagunillas and allows visitors to camp, but be careful because there have been reports of robberies. Remember that during the summer months (January to March) it gets hot, so bring plenty of water.

Boat tours

The best way to see the reserve’s abundant marine life is to take a boat tour around the peninsula. While you won’t be let off the boat, you’ll get remarkably close to all the marine life. Along the peninsula the amount of wildlife is staggering, from penguins, sea lions and turtles—depending on the season, you’ll have a chance to see some whales. Day tours of the peninsula cost around 35 soles (US$10) and can be combined with the Islas Ballestasfor a full day around 60 soles (US$18). Your day will be filled with plenty of birdwatching—the islands are literally covered with birds—and checking out the sea lions and penguins in their natural habitat. It may be called “the poor man’s Galapagos,” but it is definitely worth a trip.

History

The Paracas people are a civilization who pre-date the Incas and learned to tame one of the world’s driest deserts. Most of the artifacts from this area have since been transfered to museums throughout Peru, like the pottery art found at Museo Larco, but the reserve still offers visitors the chance to see a 5,000-year-old Necropolis. The Julio C. Tello Site Museum permanently displays pieces of the Paracas culture found in the local cemeteries.

How to get there and when to go

The cheapest and best option is to take a bus from Pisco to the town of El Chaco. The town is the starting point for tours of both Paracas and Islas Ballestas,and it will offer plenty of accommodation and food options. The best time to go is in the summer months (January to March), but given that its a desert with year-round sun, there almost isn’t a bad time to go.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.