Golden Shadows Tour: Peru’s Best Sunset
I recently came back from my trip to Peru and have to say that Paracas was one of my favorite towns in Peru. When I decided to travel to this amazing country, I didn’t expect to see one of the most beautiful sunsets in my life. I knew that Paracas was well-known because of Ballestas Island, however, I realized that there was a tour that allows you to visit the Paracas National Reserve and appreciate a breathtaking sunset. ¡I love sunsets! so I didn’t doubt joining this incredible experience and don’t regret doing it.
Keep reading below for my full experience taking the Golden Shadows Tour, what to expect, and my top tips when trekking.
Golden Shadows Tour – What you need to know:
- Only 3 hours needed (1.5 hours of walking)
- Best way to book: Find Local Trips
- A unique and unforgettable way to discover the Paracas National Reserve
Arriving in Paracas, the beautiful coastal town
I arrived in Paracas after a 3.5 hour journey by bus from Lima. The capital of Peru is a big city, with many things to do, but I didn’t like the weather too much. Most of the time the sky was cloudy and for a person who likes to catch a bit of sun rays it was a bit disappointing. However, everything changed when I got to Paracas. By the time I was there, it welcomed me with beautiful sunshine and a beach with restaurants and a nice boardwalk to enjoy the scenery.
Joining the Golden Shadows Tour
After a quick lunch at a restaurant near the main square, I met a young couple from Ireland who came to Paracas with a big group and were talking about joining a tour to the reserve called the ‘Golden Shadows’. They had booked the tour online and and after checking it out and knowing I was going to catch a beautiful sunset at the end of the tour, I was convinced to join them.
The meeting point was at the same restaurant around 3:30 pm. We got in a van with a small group towards the Paracas National Reserve (don’t forget to bring cash as you will have to pay an entrance ticket to the reserve as it is a protected area). Once off the van, our hike began!
Witnessing the most beautiful sunset in Peru
Our guide was friendly and bilingual, he encouraged us throughout the tour to keep walking and reminded us that this is not a hard one, compared to the others in Peru such as the Salkantay and Rainbow Mountain treks. We start getting to photo-worthy spots while the guide explained to us the variety of fauna that we can expect to see at the reserve, including interesting stories of the town.
As the sun began to set, the shining encounter with the sand projected a beautiful golden color, which gives the tour its name. Immediately I asked my guide to get a picture of me with the astonishing view. They also took some group photos, with the sun behind while we were walking through the cliff, showing a true trekking atmosphere.
Towards the end of the tour, we started our descent to another beach, where we just get to relax, sit down and appreciate the final bit of sunset with the sound of the waves hitting the rocks and watching the birds flyover.
After a total of 1 hour and a half hiking we got back to the transport and arrived back at the restaurant in Paracas around 6:30 pm. It was a truly worthwhile tour that you cannot miss in Paracas, especially if you love sunsets and nature!
My Top Things to Bring to the Tour
- Sunblock – Paracas is a sunny town, don’t forget to protect your skin!
- Sneakers or trekking shoes – you may have issues if coming with flip flops!
- Walking sticks – it is an easy to moderate hike but feel more safe with a walking stick.
- Bottle of water – You will be thirsty after walking for 1 and a half hours.
- Cap or hat – another option to protect your skin.
- Camera – to catch the amazing Paracas sunset.
One of the best decisions I made on my trip to Peru was joining the Golden Shadows Tour. I strongly recommend booking in advance if you are going to Paracas, and the easiest way to do it is through Find Local Trips. After staying in Paracas, I continued traveling around southern Peru and discovering hidden gems like this. Don’t be afraid to explore new places!