The Ballestas Islands are a group of small islands near the town of Paracas located, on the south coast of Peru. The islands are home to over 150 species of marine bird including the Humboldt Penguin and Guanay Cormorant.

In South America the Humboldt Penguin is found only along the Pacific coast in Peru and Chile. The current status of this penguin is threatened, due to a declining population caused in part by over-fishing, climate change, and ocean acidification.