Ballestas Islands
Rocky islands off the Paracas coast, reached by boat, crowded with sea lions, penguins and many seabirds. The trip often passes the Paracas Candelabra figure on the way back.
Paracas and Huacachina
A small oasis lagoon, giant sand dunes and boat trips to islands of sea lions lie along this desert coast.
Attractive locations
Paracas National Reserve
A protected stretch of desert coast meeting the Pacific, with red sand beaches, cliffs and birdlife. Viewpoints and short walks show the unusual contrast of dry land and rich sea.
Paracas Candelabra
A giant figure scratched into a sand hillside facing Paracas Bay, best seen from the water. Its age and purpose are still debated, which adds to its mystery.
Huacachina Lagoon
A small desert oasis ringed by palm trees and tall sand dunes near Ica. Visitors come for dune buggy rides, sandboarding and views over the dunes at sunset.
Tambo Colorado
A well-preserved adobe Inca administrative centre in a dry valley, with walls that still show traces of red and yellow paint. Trapezoid doorways reveal typical Inca design.
Paracas Bay
A calm bay on the Pacific where the town of Paracas faces the water, with a boardwalk and seafront. It is the departure point for boat trips to the Ballestas Islands.
Airports
Maria Reiche Neuman Airport NZC
It is about 179 km in a straight line from Paracas and Huacachina.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan22.9 °C4 mm
- Feb23.8 °C4 mm
- Mar23.6 °C3 mm
- Apr21.7 °C1 mm
- May19.7 °C2 mm
- Jun18.2 °C1 mm
- Jul17.4 °C2 mm
- Aug17.3 °C1 mm
- Sep17.7 °C2 mm
- Oct18.5 °C2 mm
- Nov19.6 °C3 mm
- Dec21.1 °C4 mm
Driest months: Apr, Jun, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 52% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 105. Ambulance 106. Fire 116.
local government
PromPerú (Peru's tourism promotion agency)
Helps with: Peru's tourism promotion agency, which runs the iPerú visitor information service. Its website lists a head-office phone line and address in Lima for travel questions.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Peru or planning a trip there.
Phone: (511) 616 7300
Address: Calle 1 Oeste N° 050, San Isidro, Lima, Peru
ngo
Peruvian Red Cross (Cruz Roja Peruana)
Helps with: Peru's national Red Cross society. Its website describes disaster risk management, health and wellbeing work, emergency response, and first aid and CPR courses.
Who qualifies: People in Peru who need its health, emergency or disaster-related services.
Phone: +51 986 204 095
Email: contacto@cruzroja.org.pe
Address: Av. Arequipa 1285, Urb. Santa Beatriz, Lima
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Peru
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Peru since 1966. It gives humanitarian support to migrants, displaced people, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in Peru. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +51 1 6330000
Email: iomperuatencion@iom.int
Address: Calle Miguel Seminario 320, San Isidro 15047, Lima
local government
Police emergency number 105
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 105
local government
Ambulance emergency number 106
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 106
local government
Fire emergency number 116
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 116