A total of 51,276 tourists, including both Peruvian and foreign visitors, visited the Paracas National Reserve (Rnpar), between Thursday, January 1st and Sunday, January 4th, 2026, according to a report from the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp).
“This massive influx of visitors during the New Year's holiday reflects a growing trend in nature and adventure tourism in the Ica region”, said Percy Hostia Chacaliaza, head of Rnpar, to the Andina News Agency.
"The beaches, land tours, and marine biodiversity observation continue to be the main attractions that draw thousands of travelers at the very beginning of the year," he added.
Hostia Chacaliaza also said that, to guarantee the well-being of beachgoers and day-trippers during this massive influx at the start of the year, a comprehensive security operation was deployed throughout the protected area.
He explained that this contingency plan included the strategic presence of the Lifeguard Police at the various authorized beaches, officers from the Paracas Police Station for traffic control and public safety, and Red Cross first responders. They established rapid response stations to attend to any medical emergencies among visitors.
“The massive arrival of these more than 51,000 visitors in less than a week represents a significant economic boost for the hotel, restaurant, and transportation sectors in the district of Paracas,” he stated.
A successful year
The official reported that 2025 was a highly successful year for the Paracas National Reserve, registering a total of 730,655 tourists, both domestic and international.
The Paracas National Reserve covers more than 335,000 hectares, with 65% marine areas and 35% terrestrial areas, including deserts, beaches, islands, and cliffs.
The head of the RNPAR (Paracas National Reserve) asked visitors to this protected natural area to strictly respect the signs and not to enter the designated zones.
“Although the landscape may seem uninhabited, there is life in the desert,” the official said.
“Travel outside of authorized routes destroys critical habitats and alters the unique biodiversity that survives in this extreme environment. The conservation of this unique marine-coastal treasure, renowned for its biodiversity and geography, depends on tourists being responsible observers and not agents of harm,” he concluded.
It should be noted that alcoholic beverages and pets are not permitted in the Paracas National Reserve. Visitors must also respect the established visiting hours.
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Published: 1/6/2026