Things to do in

Ica

Discover the serene landscapes of the Peruvian countryside on a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with hotel transfers included. See Humboldt penguins and sea lions on the Ballestas Islands and slide down the Huacachina dunes by sandboarding and dune buggy ride.  Your adventure begins with an early-morning pickup from your hostel or hotel. From here, travel to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 4-hour ride. We are the ONLY company that offers luxury buses for the long journey, others use small minivans. Once in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and all in their natural habitats. You may even get the chance to see a dolphin or two. Around lunchtime, it's time to move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here. Explore and have lunch (at your own expense) in one of the local restaurants around the oasis. Following lunch, it will be time for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Dune buggy up the sand dunes and sandboard down these giant hills of sand, a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. In the evening, board your bus back to Lima. Once onboard, sit back and relax on the comfortable seats while you enjoy a movie on board. You will later be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima.

Explore Huacachina, the only oasis in Peru, in a truly thrilling way. Ride over the sand dunes in a 4x4 buggy before then taking part in a sandboarding session. Start with pickup from Ica or Huacachina. Head to the oasis, and get the adrenaline pumping with a dune buggy ride. Feel as if you’re on a rollercoaster as you go up and down dunes of up to 30 meters in height. Take stops to snap photos of the desert landscape and the small lake surrounded by palm trees. Next, try your hand at sandboarding down those same dunes. This experience is suitable for all skill levels, as you’ll be learning the best techniques from your driver. Afterward visit one of the highlights of Huacachinha, the sunset over the desert. Enjoy incredible views of the sun going down, and find the best spot to snap photos with the help of your driver. Choose the private option if you’d like to tailor the tour to your group’s preferences. Select a different route, explore other areas, and adjust the starting time.

Start with pickup from your hotel in Lima at around 05:00 AM, it all depends on your location in Lima, where you will board the coach for a 03:30-hour journey to Paracas town. Before getting to Paracas, we will stop to have breakfast. On your arrival in Paracas, make your way to the dock where you will board a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands. During your journey to Ballestas, see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. In the Ballestas Islands, you will see a stunningly rugged world filled with birds and sea lions. You will navigate around the islands at a distance allowed, and depending on the sea conditions, visit nearby caves. Return to the port at 11 am, and spend some time in Paracas where you will have free time for restrooms or a short time to relax. Then, continue to the next destination, Huacachina Oasis. Have a small break to prepare for your desert tour; then board a buggy for a 2-hour adventure across the sanddunes that surround the water source. Just before the end, of the tour, we will stop at the highest point to appreciate the sunset. Return to Huacachina and have time for refreshment. Continue towards to traditional vineyard and taste the best of the local wine and Pisco or lunch at the vineyard restaurant, then Drive back to Lima arriving and dropping off at your hotel. At around 21:30 or 22:00 On this one-day tour, you will have an assistant guide on the trip who will help you with your concerns on your trip.

After your early morning collection, make a stop at an artisanal bakery to grab something for the road. Arrive in Paracas and head to El Chaco port, located in the Bay of Paracas. From here, sail to the Islas Ballestas in a modern boat and take in the beautiful view of the islands. As you sail, keep an eye out for marine wildlife, such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, black cormorants called guanays, and different types of marine birds. Then, it's time to eat. Visit a winery called "NIETO" and dine in the restaurant inside. After lunch, it's tasting time. Here, learn how to make the Peruvian pisco with a guide. Then, test your knowledge and taste the different types of pisco produced locally. Continue to Ica (Huacachina) and feel the peacefulness as you walk around the scenic lake. Then, get your adrenaline flowing on a dune buggy and sandboarding tour in Huacachina. Begin with a thrilling 4WD ride through the dunes with an experienced driver. Once you've reached the top of the dunes, you can give sandboarding a try. Finally, begin the return journey. Make one last stop on the road at “Racimo de Uva," where you can pick up some snacks or souvenir gifts, including wine, pisco, Peruvian drinks, and traditional cookies. Return time to Lima - approximately 10:30pm

Discover the Huacachina Desert and the Ballestas Islands off the coast of Paracas on this day tour leaving from Lima. Visit the Ballestas Islands and admire the local wildlife like sea lions and seals, and try out sandboarding in an oasis in the Huacachina desert. See a desert oasis and natural sights on a full-day tour, ideal for travelers short on time. Begin your tour by traveling to Paracas, and from there embark on a tour of the Ballestas Islands, often compared to the Galapagos Islands, to see colonies of sea lions and seals. Take a boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a natural paradise in Paracas. You will be able to admire sea lions, seals and rare species of birds in their natural environment. Next, explore the Huacachina Desert by buggy and go sandboarding. Ride a buggy through the dunes and practice sandboarding in the oasis of the Huacachina desert.

Experience a 2-day tour outside of Lima. After your hotel pickup in Lima, depart to Paracas, a beautiful town by the sea. Travel on a spacious bus and relax for the 4-hour ride. Once in Paracas, take a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos Islands. See sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and in their natural habitat. Enjoy free time from 12:00PM to 1:30PM for lunch. Ask your guide for recommendations! At 1:30 PM, move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. There, have more free time to explore around the oasis. Next, prepare for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggying and sandboarding. Dune buggy up the sand dunes and sandboard down these giant hills of sand, a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. The following day, go from Huacachina to Nazca in a shuttle. Arrive in Nazca around 11:00AM and go straight to the airport. Fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines, which have left thousands of people baffled for years. Have 2 hours of free time in Nazca, enough time to visit the Cantalloc Aqueducts. At 3:00PM, travel back to Huacachina and later that night, travel back to Lima. Sit back and relax on the comfortable seats. At the end of your journey, get dropped off directly to your hotel or hostel.

Discover the wine region surrounding Ica, that is known as the most important wine region in Peru for red wine and the popular local drink pisco. Visit the oldest vineyard in Peru and a traditional pisco winery and learn about how the wine and Pisco are made and, of course, taste Pisco and wine at both wineries. Start with pickup from Ica or Huacachina. Head to your first stop, the Tacama vineyard, considered one of the oldest ones in South America and first in Peru, established in the 16th century. Visit the old hacienda and tower where you will get the best view and see acres of grapes. Then you will visit the old and new factory and see how Tacama produces wines and Piscos using the industrial process. Afterward, you will taste their Piscos and wines. Head to the second vineyard called El Catador, known for its pisco. Pisco is a strong liquor known as the national drink of Peru. Learn about the traditional process to make Pisco and the clay jars known as “botijas” where the juice of crushed grapes is fermenting during March month, (harvest time). Visit the distillery and learn about the last seps to produce the famous drink. After, time to taste the Pisco and wine made here. You will have the opportunity to have lunch (not included) at one of the wineries that prepare typical dishes from this region.

Discover the incredible landscapes outside Lima, on your way to Paracas and Huacachina. Enjoy pickup from your accommodation and experience a chance to see sea lions and Humboldt penguins on the Ballestas Islands visit the oasis in Huacachina on a buggy ride and slide down the dunes. Begin your day with an early pickup from your accommodation. Relax during direct transportation to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, travel on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 4-hour ride. Arrive in Paracas and begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and birds up close and all in their natural habitats. Take a lunch break and then travel from Paracas to Huacachina, an oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to some of the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here before going on the buggy and sandboarding tour. Travel up the dunes on a buggy and sandboard down on this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. Board the bus back to Lima in the evening, just sit back and relax on the comfortable seat. Be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima, around 11:45 pm.

The activity begins by meeting our team at one of our offices, where you can leave your belongings if you wish. From there, we'll head to the vibrant port of Paracas, where you'll meet our expert bilingual guide. Before boarding, you'll receive valuable recommendations to make the most of this exciting adventure. Onboard our Eco-friendly boats, we'll venture into the enigmatic bay of Paracas. Our first stop will be the imposing Candelabra of Paracas, a gigantic geoglyph standing 120 meters tall, carved into the side of a cliff. Immerse yourself in the fascinating stories of its origin, some of which even suggest extraterrestrial connections, predating the famous Nazca Lines! Next, we'll journey beyond the bay to the majestic Ballestas Islands, renowned for their diverse wildlife. Get up close to the numerous species that call these islands home, from playful sea lions to adorable Humboldt penguins, and a multitude of guano birds like guanays, boobies, pelicans, and tendrils. Our expert guide will share with you the fascinating history of these islands and their vital role in regional biodiversity. After marveling at the wildlife, we'll return to the port, where you can delight in the breathtaking coastal views and capture unforgettable memories in photographs. Feel the sea breeze caress your face as we speed back to shore. Finally, we'll arrive at the port, where we'll disembark, filled with memories of a truly unforgettable experience in the Ballestas Islands.

Day 1: Lima - Ballestas Islands - Huacachina Start with early pickup from your hotel in Lima or meeting point. Travel to Paracas, beautiful small town by the sea, on a 4-hour journey. Upon arrival in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands. These islands are said to be a smaller version of the Galápagos. See sea lions, penguins, birds, and even dolphins up close in their natural habitats. After the boat tour, head to Huacachina, the only desert oasis in South America. Spend 2 hours getting your thrills with dune buggying and sandboarding on some of the highest sand dunes. Then, transfer to your accommodation in Huacachina. Use your free time to grab some food or maybe a beer. Relax after an adrenaline-filled evening and rest up for the next day. Day 2: Huacachina - Lima Leave Huacachina and head off to a 2-hour pisco vineyard tour. See how pisco, Peru's national drink, is made from the grape to the bottle and try lots of free samples. Spend the whole day enjoying Huacachina. Catch some sun by the pool or grab some lunch around the oasis for the perfect end to this trip. Travel by air-conditioned bus back to Lima, and get dropped off either at your hotel or the original meeting point.