This coastal city in southern Peru is the birthplace of the famous grape brandy. Local vineyards and distilleries welcome visitors to learn about the spirit's production.
Located 250 km south of Lima, Pisco sits near the penguin-inhabited Ballestas Islands, where you can watch sea lions bask on rocky shores. You can explore the ancient Inca ruins at Tambo Colorado, and spot the 180-meter Candelabra geoglyph carved into desert cliffs. In the city, you'll find local distilleries producing Peru's national spirit and restaurants serving fresh Pacific seafood like corvina and lenguado.
Getting to Pisco
You can take regular buses from Lima to Pisco, with the journey taking 3-4 hours along the coastal highway. From Cusco, overnight buses travel 17 hours west. The Capitán FAP Renán ElÃas Olivera Airport handles domestic flights and serves as an alternative landing point when Lima's weather affects flights.
Exploring the Ballestas Islands
Watch colonies of 3,000 sea lions, hundreds of Humboldt penguins, and thousands of marine birds on the Ballestas Islands just off Pisco's coast. Tour boats depart twice daily from the harbor at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, circling the islands at a safe distance to protect the wildlife. During the two-hour journey, you'll see pelicans diving for fish, sea lions lounging on rocks, and sometimes dolphins swimming alongside the boat.
Ancient Sites Near Pisco
The Candelabra geoglyph stretches 180 meters tall on the northern face of Paracas Peninsula, visible from several kilometers at sea. East of Pisco, walk through the adobe complex of Tambo Colorado to see three painted palaces, multiple courtyards, and storage rooms built by the Inca. You can explore residential areas, ceremonial spaces, and storage rooms connected by passages and plazas.
Local Food and Pisco Production
Visit Pisco's morning fish market to see fishermen bringing in corvina, lenguado, and local shellfish. Local cevicherÃas prepare these fresh catches with lime juice, ajà peppers, and corn. Several distilleries in the valley make Pisco brandy using copper stills. You can join tours and tastings between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to learn about the distillation process.
Paracas National Reserve
Walk through 335,000 hectares of coastal desert and tropical dry forest in the Paracas National Reserve. Follow trails leading to red sand beaches and clifftop viewpoints above the Pacific. You might spot both marine mammals and desert wildlife in this unique ecosystem where desert meets ocean. From June to August, steady coastal winds draw kitesurfers and paragliders to the area, with equipment rentals available in Paracas town.
