Peru – Paracas: The "Poor Man's" Galapagos 🐧

Sep 21

1 min read

Not everyone can afford a multi-day cruise in the Galapagos - a dream destination, but a very expensive one that requires extensive planning well in advance and strict entry limits on the number of visitors at any given time.

For those touring South America, there is a wonderful, budget-friendly, and highly accessible alternative: the Paracas region in Peru, located about a two-hour drive south of Lima by bus or rental car. Here, you will find the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas) - a group of islands close to the mainland that closely resemble the Galapagos! On a cruise of just a few hours, you can see massive bird colonies including pelicans, cormorants, and flamingos, alongside sea lions and seals lounging on the rocks, dolphins leaping next to the boat, penguins, and even whales during the season (July to October). It is best to head out early in the morning to ensure calm waters and a higher chance of spotting whales.

While it is possible to do this as a day trip from Lima, it is highly recommended to spend the night in the town of Paracas, which offers several nice hotels and resorts.

If you are already visiting the area, you can easily combine it with an extra day trip to the famous and mysterious Nazca Lines, as well as Huacachina - a desert oasis nestled between massive dunes where you can go sandboarding, located near the city of Ica.