Paracas, Peru: The Official Information Website
The immense desert reserve, which spans over 335,000 hectares, offers beautiful beaches, spectacular landscapes, and unique marine wildlife. Visit memorable spots such as the Ballestas Islands (Peru’s very own Galapagos) or the vibrant Red Beach. There’s a bit of everything in the Paracas National Reserve!
Wildlife to spot:
Humboldt penguin & sea lions
Climate:
Warm all year round
Open:
All year round
Tours:
View what to do
How to get there:
Direct guided access with Peru Hop
The reserve is located in the small beach town of Paracas, just 4 hours south from the capital city Lima. Like many towns in Peru, Paracas can only reached by land, with no major airports nearby.
The top recommendation by travelers is by taking the Peru Hop bus. They offer unique hop-on, hop-off passes which included a free guided tour of the Paracas National Reserve. Day Trips from Lima are also available for those short on time. Their fully bilingual team and added benefits of accommodation pickups, restaurant discounts and more, it’s easy to see why they’re so highly recommended. Check out their website for more info.
Public buses are also a good option, but for many travelers it can become a stressful organization. The different bus terminals and language barrier with customer service tend to be some of the dislikes of this option. Once in Paracas, you will have to coordinate a tour or private transport, as it’s nearly impossible to visit the Reserve without a guide.
Lastly, we strongly recommend NOT renting a car. Renting a car in Peru is expensive, roads can be confusing and dangerous, and hijackings do occur in rare cases if you take the wrong turn.
Check out our how to get to Paracas page for more info!
