Paracas Reserve and Ballestas Islands: Two-Day Birding
Bird the bays, beaches and desert margins of Paracas, then explore Ballestas seabird colonies by boat on a two-day journey with one hotel night and a specialist guide.
About this tour
Paracas offers a coastal birding setting where desert margins meet mudflats, beaches and offshore colonies. This two-day Ecologística Perú journey gives the reserve a full land-based day before a Ballestas Islands boat outing. A night at Hotel Emancipador keeps the two parts of the programme together without a same-day return after the reserve visits.
The opening day explores the bay for shorebirds, including plovers, sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling. Dry ground near the museum provides a place to search for Coastal Miner. Chilean Flamingo, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher and White-cheeked Pintail bring other possibilities along the shore. Sequión Bay is a particular stop for the Peruvian Tern, an important birding interest of this route.
Continue to Lagunillas for intertidal birds such as Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes and Blackish Oystercatcher. After lunch, La Mina beach introduces another stretch of coast for Inca Tern, Grey Gull and Red-legged Cormorant. Marine Otter may appear, although it is a possibility rather than an assured encounter. The hotel overnight follows the reserve birding day.
On the second morning, take the Ballestas boat and pass the coastal El Candelabro geoglyph en route. Colony birds can include Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Booby, Peruvian Pelican, Inca Tern and Humboldt Penguin. Keep watching the water on the return for Peruvian Diving Petrel, Sooty Shearwater or Markham’s Storm Petrel. Species vary with season and sea conditions. Private vehicle transport with a driver, an English-speaking birding guide, reserve entry, the Ballestas outing, one hotel night, lunch and dinner form the package. The lowest per-person price applies to a party of six; dates are arranged on request.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Peru.
Birds you can spot
Itinerary
Day 1
Bay shores, desert birds and the reserve coast
Explore Paracas bay for shorebirds and waterbirds, then search the dry museum surroundings for Coastal Miner. Visit Sequión Bay for Peruvian Tern and continue to Lagunillas and La Mina for birds of the rocky and intertidal coast. Have lunch along the route and spend the night at Hotel Emancipador.
Day 2
Ballestas seabird colonies
Take the Ballestas boat outing, passing El Candelabro on the way to the colony islands. Search for penguins, terns, boobies and cormorants around the rocks. Watch for diving petrels and other offshore birds during the return navigation.
Locations & map
- Paracas National Reserve - Peru
- Sequión Bay - Peru
- Lagunillas and La Mina - Peru
- Ballestas Islands - Peru
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Included
- English-speaking professional birding guide
- Private vehicle and driver
- Paracas reserve admission
- Ballestas boat outing
- One night at Hotel Emancipador
- Lunch and dinner
Not included
- Guide and driver gratuities
Transport & stays
- Private vehicle and boat Reserve birding by road, followed by a Ballestas boat outing.
Accommodations
- Hotel Emancipador (day 1)
Policies & FAQ
Which parts are explored by boat?
The reserve coastline is explored by road on the first day. The second day includes the Ballestas Islands boat outing and birdwatching during the return navigation.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.