Things to Do in Paracas

A paved coastal walkway along the bay, lined with sculptures, benches, and views of the dock and the reserve across the water.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go just before sunset to watch the fishing boats come in and the sky turn orange—it's the best free show in town.

A short waterfront promenade lined with restaurants, souvenir stalls, and a view of anchored tour boats.

🕐 Always open

💡 Come at sunset for the pier view. Buy churros from the cart near the whale statue – 2 soles each.

A free hillside viewpoint overlooking the giant geoglyph carved into the desert. You can see it clearly without a boat tour.

🕐 24/7

💡 Walk up from the main square past the cemetery – there's a marked path. Best light is late afternoon for contrast. Take binoculars.

A simple wooden lookout platform on the hill above town's port, offering panoramic views of Paracas Bay, the desert and the Ballestas Islands.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk up at dusk for a free sunset show – the island silhouettes are dramatic. Avoid midday heat.

A narrow grey-sand beach at the edge of town, busy with local families and fishermen mending nets.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Avoid midday—the sand gets hot and there's no shade. Best early morning when the light is soft and fewer people are about.

The rocky islands offshore are a wildlife reserve, but you can see them for free from the south end of El Chaco beach or the pier. Look for sea lions and pelicans.

🕐 Daylight hours

💡 Bring binoculars. The paid boat tour (about 40 soles) gets you closer, but the free view is still excellent on a clear day.

The main seaside promenade in Paracas town, lined with fishing boats, restaurants, and stalls. Good for sunset views and people-watching.

🕐 Always open

💡 Head to the far west end near the pier for quieter spots and pelicans perched on rocks. Bring your own snacks as tourist prices are high.

A striking beach inside the reserve with deep red sand and turquoise water. No swimming allowed due to currents.

🕐 Daily 08:00-17:00 (inside reserve hours)

💡 Go on a weekday morning. The colour is strongest after a light rain. Bring a windbreaker – it gets gusty.

A short walk from the reserve's main road to a cliff overlooking a striking red-sand beach and turquoise water.

🕐 Open 24 hours (within reserve hours)

💡 No swimming allowed—strong currents. Bring binoculars to spot Peruvian pelicans and Humboldt penguins on the rocks below.

The main beach in Paracas town, lined with fishing boats and restaurants. Sandy but can be windy; good for a stroll or a cheap ceviche lunch.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Best for sunset photos – the light hits the boats and cliffs perfectly. Avoid swimming here; the water is murky and currents can be strong.

A short seaside promenade in Paracas town lined with seafood ceviche stalls and souvenir kiosks. Great for sunset walks.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Ceviche from the stalls costs 5-10 PEN – far cheaper than sit-down restaurants. Try the 'chicha morada' drink.

A short sandy beach just east of the town centre, popular for swimming and kayaking. Calm waters but can get windy in the afternoon.

🕐 Always open

💡 Go early for calm water and fewer people. Avoid the far left end where sewage outflow sometimes smells. No shade—bring an umbrella.

A paved walkway along the waterfront in the town centre, lined with benches, art sculptures by local artists, and viewpoints over the bay.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk the full stretch at dusk – the breeze cools you down, and you might spot dolphins in the bay. Free public bathrooms near the main square.

A paved walkway along the seafront with benches, sculpture gardens, and views of fishing boats and pelicans. Good for a relaxed stroll.

🕐 24/7

💡 Sit at the east end near the harbour around 17:30 to watch fishermen return and the sunset – street food carts sell ceviche for a few soles.

Small but well-curated museum with pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles, and mummies from the Paracas culture. Free entry.

🕐 Tue–Sun 09:00–13:00, 15:00–18:00

💡 Donations are welcome – they maintain the collection on a shoestring. Ask for the English handout at the desk. Closes for lunch between 13:00–15:00.

Small museum in the town centre displaying local fossils, pottery, and textiles from the Paracas culture. Free entry, though donations are welcome.

🕐 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, closed Mondays

💡 Ask for the English info sheet at the front desk; exhibits are mostly labelled in Spanish. Takes about 30 minutes.

Small municipal museum with artefacts from the Paracas culture—textiles, pottery, and mummies. Exhibits are in Spanish with some English labels.

🕐 9am to 5pm, closed Mondays

💡 Donation requested but not enforced. Visit on a weekday morning when it's quiet; the textile room has the best pieces.

A hilltop viewpoint overlooking the huge candelabra-shaped geoglyph carved into the northern hillside of the Paracas Peninsula.

🕐 Always open

💡 No tour needed – walk 15 minutes from the centre up Avenida 2 de Mayo. Binoculars help; the geoglyph is about 180m tall.

A hillside viewpoint offering a clear look at the large Candelabra geoglyph carved into the sand. Visible from land without a boat tour.

🕐 Always open

💡 Walk 20 minutes from town up the dirt road past the cemetery. Best light is late afternoon. Binoculars help see the carving clearly.

A working fishing cove a short colectivo ride south. Wooden boats, rocky beach, and dozens of cheap seafood eateries on stilts.

🕐 Daily from dawn to dusk; restaurants open 10:00–18:00

💡 Take a shared taxi from the centre (5 soles per person). Eat at the stall farthest from the entrance – they're cheaper and less touristy. Bring insect repellent.