Paracas National Reserve

Visit the magnificent 877,000-acre Paracas National Reserve on this lovely half-day tour. Your excursion involves a combination of panoramic sightseeing with photo stops as well as short nature walks that will take you to specific viewpoints. 

Board your comfortable motorcoach and enjoy a scenic 30-minute drive to the reserve. Noted for its unusual geography, the reserve's vast desert landscape is surrounded by sand dunes that lead to the sea, an excellent example of a Pacific subtropical coastal desert. This is the oldest marine reserve in Peru, home to more than 215 species of migratory birds for at least part of the year. Eagles, pelicans, flamingos, Inca terns and cormorants, among others, call the area home - and there are 160 different species of fish in the surrounding nutritive waters.  

As you tour the area, your guide will impart interesting facts about the Paracas culture and the inhabitants that lived in this unusual environment more than 2,000 years ago. This reserve, dedicated to the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems as well as the protection of the cultural heritage of the pre-Inca Paracas culture, contains 100 archeological sites originally created by these indigenous people. Follow a trail that leads to a protected bay. Here you'll find colonies of scarlet and white flamingos, the inspiration for the colors of the Peruvian flag. 

Your tour visits a variety of beaches and offers the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna of this special reserve while giving you ample opportunities to take in the dramatic picture-perfect vistas.  

At the conclusion of the day, relax on the scenic motorcoach ride back to the pier. 

Practical information: 

• Included: One bottle of water on the coach.

• Remarks/requirements: Bring a hat, sunscreen, a light jacket or sweater, and wear low-heeled, rubber-soled walking shoes. 

• Walking information: Yes. 

• Wheelchair accessible: No.