Top 5 Paracas Day Trips: Unforgettable Adventures Await

So, you’re checking out Paracas, Peru? Good pick! It’s way more than just a spot to crash. It’s, like, this gateway to some seriously fantastic day trips. Right from wildlife havens teeming, just a bit, with marine life to surreal desert landscapes and ancient mysteries, there’s a whole lot to do around here. I’ll walk you through my top five picks. I reckon these are adventures you won’t forget anytime soon, basically.

1. Ballestas Islands: Peru’s Little Galápagos

Oh boy, so first off, the Ballestas Islands are often called “Poor Man’s Galapagos,” which really doesn’t do them justice. Honestly, they are a treat. These rocky outcrops, a little way off the coast, teem with wildlife. As a matter of fact, you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of birds – yeah, that’s right, hundreds of thousands. There’s like, guano birds, pelicans, and Humboldt penguins. Not only birds but also seals, which laze about on the rocks, soaking up the sun. It’s all unbelievably adorable, very, very cute! So, the boat tours are what you wanna get, too, to get really up close (but of course, not *too* close so as not to bother anyone).

Plus, on your way, the tour guides point out “El Candelabro,” that is, a huge geoglyph etched into the cliffside. That’s old-school mystery right there, alright! The funny thing, it looks like it could be, arguably, a relative of the Nazca Lines. A good idea for a morning trip that’ll leave you buzzing. So then you get to go back and you’ve seen heaps, okay.

Good to know: Take sunscreen, and that is very important indeed. That’s, arguably, essential – plus a windbreaker too, ’cause it can get rather breezy on the water.

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2. Paracas National Reserve: Desert Meets the Ocean

Alright, this place is just… well, stunning is actually putting it rather mildly. The Paracas National Reserve. A coastal desert with landscapes that are actually unlike anything else on the planet. You have, first of all, vast expanses of sand that tumble right down to the ocean. A bizarre visual treat, which looks awesome. That red sand is pretty sweet, too! Then again, you have dramatic cliffs that have copped a pounding by the waves. So many great views you can’t actually deal, basically!

Basically, you can explore by car, by bike, or on a guided tour. If you are a proper adventurous type you wanna cycle around there and see some nice hidden spots. Also make sure to peep Playa Roja, which means “Red Beach”. Very self-explanatory, but basically, very eye-catching and cool. It really is this intense red sand. It’s got to be one of the more unique beaches I’ve personally set eyes on, in fairness. Take loads of photos too!

Something to consider: This place can be incredibly hot in the middle of the day so too it’s almost vital to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon. The tour guide, very helpfully, gave us advice too. Take plenty of water with you and sunscreen. Obvious, but easily missed.

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3. Huacachina Oasis and Sandboarding Adventure

Here’s a funny thing – it’s about an hour from Paracas but trust me: you want this on your itinerary. In the middle of, arguably, the driest desert in the world, the Americas’ very only coastal desert, like, in the middle of all that, is the Huacachina Oasis, okay? That means that out of the dunes suddenly rises this tiny lagoon, and all around it the hotels and restaurants of Huacachina are gathered!

Basically, the main gig here, it seems, is zooming about in dune buggies! So then you belt all around and up and down these massive sand dunes. In a very safe way, so do not even stress, you know? Plus the operators also take you sandboarding which can look intimidating. Having a go is great. You slide down the dunes on a board. I am very much recommending you have a go, alright!

Local knowledge: Book your tour in advance. It can get surprisingly busy and popular here. Go at sunset to enjoy, sort of, the desert as the sun goes down. It’s magical and dreamy, is what it is.

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4. Ica: Wine and Pisco Tasting

Ica is a city a bit bigger than Paracas. Now, it has a certain reputation as the place where they make Pisco, alright. You wanna know, Pisco is Peru’s national liquor. It goes without saying that you kinda wanna sample a drop when you’re around, is that correct? Several distilleries and vineyards offer tours and tastings, alright, where you are talked through all about how they are made. The traditional methods of course.

A great many vineyards, which, surprise surprise, make actual wine too! So then there are proper winery tours if you feel like swanning around and thinking about vintages, do that too! Then if the Pisco’s tasty you should load some bottles into your pack! (If you are old enough obviously). I’ve got bottles sitting around on my shelves still.

Worth thinking about: Book a tour. This guarantees you are taken to only the most reliable vineyards. Make sure they’ve got safe transport too. Also important. Sample responsibly of course.

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5. Tambo Colorado: An Ancient Inca Site

Tambo Colorado: This is actually a little further out. But what’s a bit of a drive for a top class piece of history? As a matter of fact, it is what they called a “tambo” from back in Inca days, that’s a rest stop and administrative center.

What’s so great: these ruins have, arguably, been kept rather well, even for this long after, okay? The adobe walls and trapezoidal doorways show Inca building genius and talent. So this shows Inca architecture perfectly, almost. So get someone good on the ancient cultures around there who knows all the goss so that when you wander, that person actually points some bits out!

Remember that… Tambo Colorado has got that hot desert sun. This is true too of all places. Hydrate right. It does. Oh and wear a hat because the sun’s beating right down. If you can do those, the whole thing’s very comfy.

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