7 Days in Paracas & the Chincha Islands, Peru
Paracas is a working fishing village on Peru's stark Pacific coast, gateway to the Ballestas Islands and a pre-Columbian necropolis. Skip the resort crowds; come in May or September to kayak among wildlife, eat fresh ceviche, and explore one of South America's wildest coasts.
What to expect
- Ballestas Islands boat tour; see Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and thousands of boobies.
- Kayak in Paracas Bay at dawn; navigate between rocky islets and hidden beaches.
- Walk the Paracas Necropolis; mummified textiles preserved 2,000 years by desert air.
- Fresh ceviche lunch at a fisherman's stall; fish caught that morning for $5.
- Hike the Candelabra geoglyph trail; see an ancient hillside carving from ground level.
Day by day
Arrive in Paracas by colectivo (shared van) from Ica or Lima; 3–4 hours.
Check into a budget hotel on the malecón; walk the fishing pier and fish market.
Ceviche and calamar at a family-run restaurant overlooking the bay.
Early boat departure (6 am) to Ballestas; 2-hour tour with naturalist guide.
Rest and lunch; afternoon free to explore the town or sleep off the ocean swell.
Sunset walk along the malecón; buy fresh fish and cook it at your hotel or a shared kitchen.
Guided kayak tour in Paracas Bay; paddle to Playa Raspón and navigate rock formations.
Lunch at a beachside cabaña; snorkel in the shallows or rest on sand.
Return to town; dinner of grilled corvina at a waterfront stall.
Visit the Paracas Necropolis archaeological museum; see mummified bundles and weavings.
Hike the coastal trail near the site; quiet beaches frame the dunes.
Dinner at a local's home if arranged through your hotel; home-cooked carapulcra stew.
Early drive to Candelabra trailhead; 2-hour hike to view the ancient hillside carving.
Picnic overlooking the Andes and coast; explore pre-Columbian artifacts visible on slopes.
Return to Paracas; rest and pack for island excursion.
Boat trip to the Chincha Islands; snorkel and explore guano-covered rocks.
Stay overnight in a simple fisherman's cabin; help prepare dinner if interested.
Bonfire on the beach; listen to stories of island life and sea changes.
Final kayak or swim from the island; watch fishing boats prepare for the day.
Return to Paracas; buy dried seafood and woven bags at the market.
Colectivo back to Ica or Lima, carrying the salt and wind of the Humboldt Current with you.
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