Swimming With Sea Lions at the Palomino Islands: Which Boat to Book
5 min read
The most-reviewed way to do it is the yacht tour with sea lion swim: 4.8 stars from 1,911 reviews, from €61.90, with a group of up to 30 people. If you prefer a smaller group, the 4-islands trip takes up to 15 and costs €60.94.
Where you are going
The Palomino Islets sit about 6 miles west of the port of Callao, beyond San Lorenzo Island, and belong to the Reserva Nacional Sistema de Islas, Islotes y Puntas Guaneras, a protected area run by the national parks agency SERNANP. In its visitor guidance (published in 2022) SERNANP describes one of the largest sea lion colonies in Peru here, and a stop at the Cavinzas Islands on the way, where Humboldt penguins and guano birds live (SERNANP). The same text sets out the rules: you may only enter the islands’ waters with an operator authorised by SERNANP, visits run between 8 am and 4:30 pm, you stay at least 30 metres from the islands, you wear a life jacket and you do not touch or feed the animals.
Three boat trips compared
| Tour | Length | From | Rating | Group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yacht tour and sea lion swim | 3.5 to 6.5 hours | €61.90 | 4.8 (1,911) | Up to 30 |
| 4 islands and Palomino with snack and photos | 3.5 hours | €60.94 | 4.9 (184) | Up to 15 |
| Boat tour from Callao | about 3 hours | €69.08 | 4.7 (163) | Up to 22 |
What each one gives you
The yacht tour leaves from La Punta bay in Callao, with optional hotel pickup. The page lists a wetsuit, a life jacket, seasickness tablets and a guide who speaks English and Spanish, and says there are toilets on board; the stop at the islands lasts about 30 minutes. The itinerary marks an extra fee at the pier, and the list of services names a nature reserve and private pier fee of $8 per person, so plan on paying it. Bring your own towel and water: the page lists both under what to bring.
The 4-islands trip meets at the Callao port authority building (Capitanía) and asks you to arrive 30 minutes early. Despite the word yacht in the description, its itinerary shows a speedboat. It lists life jackets, a wetsuit in sizes S, M and L only (ask if you need larger), a snack, photos and personal accident insurance. The same list names a Marina Club del Callao boarding fee of S/ 15 and a SERNANP fee of S/ 10 ; ask before you pay whether they are in the price.
The boat tour from Callao meets at 9:45 am on Comandante Fanning in La Punta, asks you to be at the dock 30 minutes earlier, and returns to the pier around 1 pm. It lists a neoprene suit, a life vest and a snack; bring your own towel, as the page asks. Its list of services also names a reserve conservation fee; ask how much it is and whether it is included.
Honest notes
- All three tours list a wetsuit or neoprene suit and a life jacket, so you do not need your own.
- The yacht tour and the 4-islands trip list people with mobility impairments as not suitable, and the Callao boat tour lists people with heart problems, a cold or pre-existing medical conditions. If any applies to you, read the booking page before you pay.
- The sea lions are wild animals. A tour can show you a lot of them, but the booking pages promise a chance to swim with them, not a guarantee.
- The yacht page puts the water temperature at 7 to 19 °C depending on the time of year, which is why every tour hands out a wetsuit.
Our recommendation
Book the yacht tour for the strongest track record. Choose the 4-islands trip if a smaller group matters to you. All options are on the sea lions page.
