Located off Peru's central coast, this rocky landform spans 39 hectares and shelters several seabird colonies, including Humboldt penguins and Peruvian boobies.
Off the coast of Lima, Pachacámac Island emerges from the Pacific as a white landmass covered in bird droppings. This island forms part of a group of five that looks like a whale breaking the surface. Red-legged cormorants dive near rocky areas, Humboldt penguins nest in cracks, and sea lions rest on warm rocks. Underwater cliffs hold schools of Peruvian anchovetas and starfish. Visiting requires special permission, but those who come see research labs studying ocean life and old structures from guano mining in the 1800s. Stories from the area say the islands were created from a goddess's tears after she discovered betrayal, connecting the land to both nature and local beliefs.
Observing Birds and Ocean Animals
Pachacámac Island holds one of Peru’s largest groups of seabirds along its coast. From August to March, Peruvian boobies build nests on flat areas, and Inca terns with feather tufts resembling mustaches perch on cliffs. Look for turkey vultures flying over Peñón Pachacámac, a smaller island where guanay cormorants gather. On nearby El Sauce islet, South American sea lions sunbathe during the afternoon, their calls heard across the 265-meter-wide channel. Researchers with permits sometimes snorkel through thick kelp beds hiding seahorses and octopuses, though rough waters make this challenging for most visitors.
How to Visit and Rules
You need written approval from Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal’s fisheries department to visit. Send your request at least one month ahead, explaining educational or scientific reasons—vacation trips aren’t allowed. Groups with permits leave from San Pedro Beach in Lurín, where local boat owners might take passengers between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM when not fishing. The 45-minute boat ride passes Corcovado Reef, a line of rocks exposed during low tide. Bring medication for seasickness; waves here often reach over two meters tall.
The Story of Cavillaca
People in the Lurín Valley tell how the islands formed from a goddess named Cavillaca. After learning the trickster god Cuniraya fathered her child, she ran into the ocean and turned to stone, her tears creating three small islets. This story matches ancient rituals at the Pachacámac Sanctuary nearby, where people once asked for advice from spiritual leaders. Fishermen today keep quiet near the islands, fearing loud sounds might upset Cavillaca’s resting place.
Scientific Studies on the Island
A marine research station on Pachacámac’s eastern flat area studies how the Humboldt Current affects local wildlife. Scientists here count seabird numbers every month, information used to control bird droppings collected for fertilizer under Peru’s protection laws. The station also records fog patterns that influence how lichens grow on northern cliffs. Their findings help predict changes in fish populations along Peru’s coast.
