I’m going to let you in on a little secret. The most fun, and most authentic thing you can do in Paracas isn’t the crowded Ballestas Islands Tour – it’s this.
A local family in Paracas took me and two others out on their fishing boat the other morning for the most authentic experience in Paracas, Peru. If you want to connect with locals, support a family-run business and taste the freshest scallops of your life, skip the big tour and contact Tour Vivencial Atenas Beach instead.
They picked me up directly at my hotel in Paracas for the 10-minute drive to Atenas Beach, which is right next to the port in the Paracas National Reserve.
We hopped aboard the boat and met the fishermen waiting for us, a father, his son, and a good friend. This is truly a family business, passed from father to son, and they only started taking tourists aboard in 2020.
As we headed out, the father began the tour, passionately explaining the history of their family business and the protected setting around us. We did our tour in Spanish (which was great practice (and a challenge) for me!), but they also offer tours in English.
In Paracas National Reserve it’s strictly forbidden to fish – it’s a reserve after all. So how does it work?
Well, the scallops here are not exactly wild-caught. It’s sustainable farming in “wild” waters. From what I understood: The family actually buys baby scallops from a local hatchery. They place them in their protected areas of the bay, where they grow for months (or even years) to their full size. The largest ones we pulled up they estimated to be about a year old. The unique environment of the reserve is what gives them their incredibly sweet flavor and perfect texture.
The father put on a wetsuit and mask, grabbed his net and dove into the calm, two-meter-deep water (about 5-6 feet). He came back up almost immediately with his hands full of scallops.
In just five minutes, he had a whole bag full. I helped him pull it aboard, and he poured the haul onto the bow. I was excited by the vibrant colors of the shells. He talked us through the different sizes and colors, and showed us the other “goodies” he brought up, like mussels, crabs, and seaweed.
The highlight of course. While dad was explaining everything to us, the friend was shucking scallops for the tasting. We ate them as they called, American style, eg only eating the white meaty part and ditching the rest.
It was all paired with a little 9 am vino. Seafood doesn’t get fresher than this.
After the tasting, we had time to hop in the water. The girls tried kayaking, and I tried diving for scallops myself. Turns out it was as easy and as fun as it looks. New job?
Here’s a quick rundown of the logistics:
I found it a bit difficult to track down how to book this experience with Tour Vivencial Atenas Beach, so I’ll make it easy for you. There were a few third party sites where I saw this tour (or similar) but it was only possible to book privately for 2+ people.
The best way to get in touch is to contact Liccet directly via WhatsApp +51 917 594 850. She’ll share all the details, availability, and pricing. You can also find them on Instagram or Tiktok, @tourvivencialatenasbeach.
I stopped by their shop the day before to sign some papers and pay. Go enjoy the most authentic tour in Paracas with the sweetest family, and let me know what you think.
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