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Paracas Small group activities

Our most recommended Paracas Small group activities

From Lima: Ballestas, Nazca Lines, & Huacachina Oasis

1. From Lima: Ballestas, Nazca Lines, & Huacachina Oasis

Start your adventure by departing Lima in the early morning. Travel for around 300 km on the Pan-American highway until you reach Paracas Bay, a very important place for Peruvian history which is full of wildlife.  Enjoy a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands and watch out for birds, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. Then head to Pisco Airport and take a 1 hour and 45-minute flight over the Palpa desert to see the Nazca Lines. Stop at the Huacachina Oasis, and take some time to eat lunch and walk around. Test your skills at sandboarding for an additional cost or just enjoy free time drinking Pisco Sours. At the end of the adventure, head back to Lima via the same route.

From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Oasis & Winery Tour

2. From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Oasis & Winery Tour

Start your adventure by departing Lima in the early morning. Travel for around 300 km on the Pan-American highway until you reach Paracas Bay, a very important place for Peruvian history which is full of wildlife.  Enjoy a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands and watch out for birds, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. Then drive to drive to a small local winery to learn how Pisco is made and to enjoy a tasting. Stop at the Huacachina Oasis, and take some time to eat lunch and walk around. Test your skills at sand boarding or just enjoy free time enjoying the beautiful landscape . At the end of the adventure, head back to Lima via the same route.

Lima: 7-Day Inca Tour with Flights and Macchu Picchu

3. Lima: 7-Day Inca Tour with Flights and Macchu Picchu

Discover Incan culture on a 7-day tour of Peru from Lima. Visit the Ballestas Islands, explore the beautiful town of Chinchero, and visit the famous Machu Picchu. Day 1Upon your arrival in Lima, your representative will be waiting with a sign stating your name. From there you'll be transferred to your respective hotel where you can check in. You'll soon begin a city tour through Lima, which will begin with panoramic views of the Pucllana Pyramid or Huaca Pucllana, the historical center of Lima. It will be there that you can appreciate more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, and once the tour has finished you'll return to your hotel. Day 2Begin your day with a pickup from your hotel between 4:30 AM and 5:00 AM. You will begin with a trip to the Paracas Peninsula to visit the Ballestas Islands, which are a national reserve. From there, continue your trip to the city of Ica for a demonstration with wines and traditional Pisco of the valley. Following that, you will taste a typical local lunch according to the menu of the day. You will then travel for approximately 30 minutes to the oasis of Huacachina, where you will enjoy the adrenaline of riding buggies and sandboards. After this great adventure, you will return back to Lima in your private transportation. Day 3 According to your flight schedule in Cusco, your representative will be waiting for you at the Cusco Airport. From there, your day will be spent by you acclimatizing to Cusco's altitude. Day 4You will begin between 8:00AM and 8:30AM, at which point you will travel to the colorful town of Chinchero. There you will learn about Andean fabrics in a textile interpretation center, before continuing onward to the famous circular cultivation terraces in Moray. After that, descend towards the salt mines in Maras where you will visit the more than 3,000 wells of salt. Finally, you will travel to Ollantaytambo Station where you will board your train to Aguas Calientes. Day 5On day 5 you will encounter one of the 7 Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu. You'll begin by taking the bus from Aguas Calientes, as your tour guide provides you with all the information before your 2-hour tour through this Inca citadel. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, from where you will be transferred to Cusco by private transportation. Day 6Between 4:30AM and 5:00AM, your transportation will pick you up from your hotel from where you will drive for 3 hours in the direction of Rainbow Mountain. Following breakfast, you will drive for another 45 minutes to begin your 2-hour trek. Upon reaching the top of the "Mountain of Colors", you will have enough time to take photographs and enjoy the landscape. In addition, you will also be able to appreciate the highest snow peak in Cusco: Ausangate Mountain. Day 7On the final day of your tour, you will be taken to Cusco Airport, at which point your tour will conclude.

From Lima: Tour to Paracas, Ica and Huacachina

4. From Lima: Tour to Paracas, Ica and Huacachina

Visit a natural oasis in the middle of the desert surrounded by beautiful palm trees. Here, you can also take pedal boat rides around the lagoon, practice sand-boarding and ride in tubular cars. You will be picked up from your hotel at 4:00 AM. Before heading to Paracas. Once you arrive, board the 'sliders' at the pier and begin the excursion to the Ballestas Islands. On the way, we can see the 'Candelabro' (Paracas Chandelier), a large geoglyph that serves as a beacon to the navigators. Continuing to the Ballestas Islands, you'll see the natural habitat of the sea lions. They love to approach the tourist boats, a truly magical spectacle that justifies the visit in itself. You will also be able to view the Humboldt penguins and guano birds.  Continuing to the province of Ica, get to know the culture and gastronomy with a typical lunch. After lunch, you'll go to the Huacachina Oasis and take a high-adrenaline ride in a sand buggies and also be able to try sandboarding. Finally, you'll have free time to walk around the oasis, take a boat ride, take pictures or buy handicrafts. You will return to Lima by bus. 

From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Oasis, Desert Buggy

5. From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Oasis, Desert Buggy

See the desert oasis and natural hotspots on a full-day tour from Lima. Sail to Ballestas Island to see colonies of sea lions and penguins. Explore Huacachina Oasis and do dune a buggy tour in the desert. After pickup, head south to make your way to Islas Ballesta's unique natural place. These rocky islands, located off the Pacific coast of Peru, are perfect for animal lovers. Spot several birds and mammals including penguins, sea lions, and pelicans in this wildlife haven. Enjoy the rugged coastline of soaring cliffs, rocky beaches, and remote sea caves. Check out the enigmatic Paracas Candelabra, a giant prehistoric geoglyph in the Paracas Peninsula at Pisco Bay. Continue to Huacachina to see its beautiful oasis. Relax in the lap of nature surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Enjoy your day in the desert, taking a dune buggy tour, so much fun. Soak in the spectacular landscape formed by a lagoon of emerald green waters and large dunes.

From Lima: Day Trip to Paracas and Huacachina

6. From Lima: Day Trip to Paracas and Huacachina

Embark on a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with hotel transfers included, and discover the tranquil landscapes of the Peruvian countryside. Witness Humboldt penguins and sea lions up close on the Ballestas Islands, followed by an exhilarating sandboarding and dune buggy ride down the Huacachina dunes. Your adventure commences with an early-morning pickup from your hostel or hotel, followed by a comfortable 4-hour bus ride to Paracas, a charming coastal town. In Paracas, you'll embark on a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a mini-Galapagos teeming with wildlife such as sea lions, penguins, and an array of bird species in their natural habitats. After the tour, move on to Huacachina, a natural oasis situated in the Ica Desert, which is home to the largest sand dunes in South America. You'll have free time to explore the area and enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at one of the local restaurants around the oasis. Following lunch, prepare for an adrenaline-packed 2 hours of dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Ride the dune buggy up the towering sand dunes, and then slide down these mammoth hills of sand, creating unforgettable memories in the only natural desert oasis in South America. In the evening, board your bus back to Lima, where you can unwind on comfortable seats and enjoy the scenic views during the return trip. Upon arrival in Lima, the bus will drop you off directly at your hotel or hostel.

From Lima: Paracas National Reserve & Ballestas Islands Tour

7. From Lima: Paracas National Reserve & Ballestas Islands Tour

After pickup, head to the south to discover unique landscapes where the desert, the islands and the sea all meet. Make a brief stop for a delicious breakfast and continue the journey. Then, go to Paracas dock to take a speed boat to the Ballestas Islands. Explore the rocky islands and discover the rich marine fauna. Take photos of sea lions and many types of birds such as penguins. Don't miss the enigmatic Candelabro Geoglyph, used as a navigational guide by ancient cultures. After your tour of the island, visit the impressive and isolated Paracas National Reserve. This natural reserve is part of the Guinness World Record for the driest desert on earth. Admire the stunning landscape of the peninsula. Learn all about dessert formation from your expert guide. If you are lucky you might see the great pink flamingos. Then, return to your hotel in Lima.

From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Nazca Lines, & Huacachina Tour

8. From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Nazca Lines, & Huacachina Tour

This day trip starts early in the morning to avoid the traffic. It takes around 3 hours until the arrival in Paracas from where the Ballestas island boat tour will start. The duration of this tour is 2 hours and you will be face to face to amazing marine species such as sea lions, guano birds and humboldt penguins. After the Ballestas islands tour you go to Pisco airport (located 15 minutes away) to jump into a plane and fly over the Nazca lines. This flight takes 45 minutes and you will see many geoglyphs that will blow your mind. When the Nazca lines flight is done, you go straight to Huacachina Oasis. In Huacachina you will have a delicious Peruvian lunch in a restaurant in front of the beautiful oasis. After lunch you will take a dune buggy tour through Huacachina‘s desert. The vehicle goes up and down the huge dunes and make many stops for you to surf the sand with a sandboard.

Lima: 9-Day Peru Express with Ica, Cusco, and Puno

9. Lima: 9-Day Peru Express with Ica, Cusco, and Puno

Day 1: Arrival in Lima, City Tour Your tour will begin as you are picked up from the airport, it is advisable to arrive in the morning. In the afternoon, you will take a city tour. That evening you will stay at the Miramar Hotel or similar in Lima. Day 2: Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina with Buggies and Sandboarding Visit the Ballestas Islands and Candelabrum, before a wine and Pisco demonstration in Ica city. Later that day, take part in riding buggies and sandboarding in Huacachina. That evening you will once again stay at the Miramar Hotel or similar in Lima. Day 3: Arrival to Cusco On your third day, you will arrive in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel then will have a free day for acclimatizing or visiting some places around the Cusco historical center. That evening you will lodge in the Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar. Day 4: Chinchero, Maras, and Moray in the Sacred Valley of the Incas Begin with a visit to the Chinchero textile center, before moving onward to the archaeological sites in Chinchero and Moray. Following that, you will tour the salt mines in Maras before taking the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, lodging at the Golden Sunrise Hotel or similar in Aguas Calientes. Day 5: Machu Picchu Inca Citadel On day 5 you will explore the breathtaking Machu Picchu, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Following a full day at this sacred site. In the afternoon, take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and arrive in Cusco by transportation, you will overnight at the Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar. Day 6: Humantay Lake On your sixth day, you will trek to Humantay Lake, which is close to the snowy Salkantay mountain, you will be able to know the first camp of the famous Salkantay trek. That evening you will once again lodge in the Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar. Day 7: Rainbow Mountain Trek to Rainbow Mountain, which is very close to the highest mountain of Cusco: the Ausangate Mountain, this is a famous place around Cusco. Following your day of hiking, you will return once more to the Ayni Cusco Hotel or similar overnight. Day 8: Route of the Sun On day 8 you will take a bus tour between Cusco and Puno. Throughout this journey, you will visit the Andahuaylillas Chapel, Raqchi Archaeological Complex, La Raya Pass, and the Lithic Museum of Pukara. That evening you will stay at the Qalasaya Hotel or similar. Day 9: Titicaca Lake and the Uros and Taquile Islands On the final day, you will take a speed boat tour of Lake Titicaca, before exploring the Uros and Taquile Islands. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the airport where your tour will conclude.

From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Paracas Reserve & Museum Tour

10. From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Paracas Reserve & Museum Tour

Prepare yourself for an early morning pickup from your hotel in Lima at 4:30 AM. Travel south towards the desert area and coastal region of the Paracas National Reserve. Enjoy a fresh box for breakfast and arrive at Paracas at 7:40 AM. Upon arrival at Paracas, head towards the main port to board the first boat of the day to the Ballestas Islands. Admire the scenery of the Bay of Paracas and Punta Pejerrey en route to the natural habitat of sea lions, seagulls, penguins and other wildlife species. See the incredible "Paracas Candelabra", geoglyph related to the Nazca lines. Its significance is still a mystery. Get a detailed explanation of the history and importance of the Paracas National Reserve, established in 1975 as the oldest marine reserve in Peru. Visit key attractions on the reserve such as the Interpretation Center, the Flamingo Viewpoint, the Cathedral, and beautiful beaches like Playa Lagunillas, Playa Roja, and Playa Yumaque.  Continue the tour with a guided visit to the Paracas Museum. Learn interesting facts about local culture as you explore rooms filled pottery, textiles, and mysterious elongated skulls. Finally, enjoy a fresh seafood lunch in an ocean-view restaurant before beginning your trip back to Lima.

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What people are saying about Paracas

An incredible experience. Miguel (our guide) was punctual at our hotel to start the day and from minute 1 he proved to be an excellent guide, always attentive to everything we were dealing with and wanted to know. The day was a roller coaster of emotions that began in Paracas on the Ballesteros Islands. Seeing penguins, sea lions and countless birds left us speechless. Once in the Ica desert, we let ourselves be amazed by Huacachina, its oasis and the dunes. The tubular ride was amazing, pure fun and the sand boarding experience was a lot of fun too. Finally, we move on to Nietto for lunch and wine tasting, the perfect way to end an unforgettable adventure. Eternal thanks to Miguel and the driver of the van for a service and experience of 10.

This was a wonderful and exciting trip. Everyone got good looks at each line. If you are prone to air sickness, I would encourage you to take a full dose of air sickness remedy as the plane makes strong turns from left to right and vice versa. When I fly, I take a very small dose of Dramamine but decided to take an entire pill for this. Glad I did, as there were times I thought I was going to lose it, but didn’t. No regrets with making the trip though. Pilot and guide did a great job of pointing out each of the lines.

Thank you to William for an insightful day! It ended up being just the two of us with William as our guide and a driver in a very comfortable car! It was very well organised - we were picked up on time and the day followed well, starting with the boat tour, followed by some brief stops at the National Reserve and ending with sea view lunch (before returning to Lima). We appreciated the insights that William was able to provide and enjoyed the whole day!

This was an amazing experience to see so much and have a great time doing it! Very much recommended

Muy bonita experiencia...todos los detalles de la excursión fueron cubiertos.Me encantó Perú!!!