Paracas

Learn More about the Local Area

Just five minutes from La Hacienda Bahía Paracas, you’ll find the pristine Paracas National Reserve. Nestled between the stunning beauty of the Bay of Paracas and the mystical tranquility of the desert, this unique natural reserve welcomes you to discover fantastic beaches, mingle with a diverse variety of marine fauna and explore the ruins and artifacts of ancient Paracan cultures.

Ballestas Islands

It is a small archipelago of rocky islands, where a great number of marine species coexist as Humboldt penguins, dolphins, flamingos and other birds. In the nineteenth century, this area represented an important source of income for the country due to the extraction of guano from birds, a fertilizer of great demand at the time. You can still see the remains of the docks that were operational 150 years ago. At present, the disembarkation in the islands is not allowed to deteriorate the beauty and ecological balance. Nevertheless, visitors can enjoy direct contact with the species of this ecosystem from their boats.

Additionally, guests of La Hacienda Bahía Paracas have access to our private pier and boats, which offer excursions to the Islands. An exclusive and luxurious alternative to the public tours, our boats feature restrooms and hard roofs. We provide blankets and bottles of water during the trip. At the end of the tour, we offer a small coffee break with a quick guided tour to our private, onsite museum.

Paracas Peninsula

It’s the ideal destination for lovers of the sea and coastal ecosystems. In ancient times, this almost desert peninsula served as a sanctuary for the Paracas culture. The inhabitants of this civilization did not live in the area, but in the neighboring valleys of Chincha, Pisco and Ica. Interestingly, the sole function that the peninsula fulfilled was to serve as a burial place to spend eternity next to the sea.

The Candelabrum

On the slope of one of the hills that form the peninsula of Paracas is this impressive design drawn on the rock and sand. Its origin could not be defined with certainty, which has given rise to many legends that focus on the liberator Don José de San Martín, sixteenth-century corsairs, the ancient Nazca culture and even the aliens. The truth is that since it can be seen from the ocean, its function seems to be to guide navigators on the high seas.

Playa Arenas

This beach is located in the north of the peninsula and is a popular windsurfing and kitesurfing destination.

Julio C. Tello Museum

Explore the museum’s world-class permanent exhibition of archaeological pieces from Paracas, Nazca, Chavín and other pre-Columbian cultures settled in Peruvian territory.