Paracas

Paracas is a small town on Peru's coast, located approximately 3.5 hrs by car south of Lima.  Paracas has a few luxury resort hotels along the water.  It is a top destination for those seeking to get away from Lima, enjoy the sun, and visit the incredible nature and cultural sites nearby.  

The town provides access, via boat tours, to the uninhabited Ballestas Islands, which are home to sea lions, pelicans, and Humboldt penguins. It is also near the wildlife-rich Paracas National Reserve which spans desert, ocean, islands, and the Paracas Peninsula. This peninsula is where you can find the Candelabro, a huge prehistoric geoglyph etched into a hillside.  Another top activity accessible from Paracas is flying over the famous Nazca Lines. The Nazca Lines are a group of very large trenches in the Nazca Desert.  These lines form shapes that are best seen from the air, though they are visible from the surrounding foothills and other high places.  The Nazca Lines comprise hundreds of simple lines and geometric shapes. More than 70 designs of animals are depicted, including a hummingbird, spider, fish, llama, jaguar, monkey, lizard, dog, and a human; other shapes include trees and flowers.  The purpose of these lines is unknown and subject to many speculation theories.

3 days/2 nights at a Paracas luxury resort is enough to enjoy it and have a good experience.

Alternatively, you can go just for the entire day.  Trips from Lima start early and return late.  Search for current options on TripAdvisor.

How to arrive (there are no flights from Lima)

• By bus:

Cruz del Sur is the name of the bus company. The bus terminal in Lima is located near San Isidro (20 minutes from Miraflores).  The ride is 3.5 hrs long and arrives in Paracas at El Chaco terminal.  The price is $20 one way. From the terminal, a taxi to a hotel is approximately $4. Note that the final destination for the bus will most likely be further south than Paracas, so that final destination could be Ica, Arequipa, or Nazca. Ensure that the bus has a stop in Paracas.

https://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/home-en/

• Private Transportation: 

Hiring a taxi or private car costs around $200-250 each way, for up to 4 people. The hotel in Paracas can arrange for these, or a Lima-based transportation company can be contracted.

https://www.taxivanlima.com/servicio/transporte-privado-lima.html

Luxury Resort Hotels:

• Hotel Paracas – Marriott Luxury Collection ($200 - $300 per night) 

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/details-1/piolc-hotel-paracas-a-luxury-collection-resort-paracas/

• Hotel La Hacienda Bahia Paracas ($200 - $300 per night) 

https://www.lahaciendabahiaparacas.com/en

• Hyatt The Legend Paracas Resort ($150 - $200 per night)

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/peru/the-legend-paracas-resort/piodh

What to do in Paracas:

• Visiting the Ballestas Islands is a must; it is the natural habitat of Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and many types of seabirds and shorebirds.

• Visit the Paracas National Reserve, especially the desert and beach sections (recommend taking a short tour). There are several vista points with magnificent views over the ocean.

• Flamingos area, ask in the hotel how to arrive there and walk along the beach. 

• Take a tour to fly over the Nazca Lines

• Take a tour to visit Huacachina Oasis, the only natural oasis in South America.

• The hotels have exclusive tours to places like the vineyards in Ica or yacht across the bay. Ask in the hotel.

Tour Operators in Paracas

• Venturia Tours:

This company is located at the Hotel Paracas (Marriott). They offer private and group tours daily. They have tours to the Nazca lines, and boat tours to the Ballestas Islands, all of which depart from the hotels in Paracas. It’s not necessary to be a guest at the hotel to contract a tour.

Daily tour of Ballestas Islands and the bay, lasting about 2-3 hrs. Group tour at $49/person.

Daily yacht tour across the Paracas bay, lasting 1.5 hr. Group tour at $65/person.

• Nazca Flights:

This company offers fly-overs of the Nazca lines departing from Pisco airport (near Paracas). Pick up and drop off from the hotel in Paracas.  It includes a 30-minute fly-over of the Nazca lines for $285. Total estimated time 3 hrs.