The Ballestas Islands and Huacachina are two iconic destinations in the Ica region that are often combined on day tours from Lima, offering a double experience: the marine life of the islands and the adrenaline of the dunes at the Huacachina oasis.
The Ballestas Islands, in Paracas, are home to sea lions, penguins and guano birds, and you tour them by boat from the port. Huacachina is a desert oasis famous for sandboarding and dune buggy rides over its huge dunes.
| Duration | Full day |
|---|---|
| Schedule | pickup 4:00 a.m. / arrival in Lima around 10:30 p.m. |
| Location | Paracas is in the province of Pisco (department of Ica), 260 km south of Lima. The Huacachina lagoon is 5 km from the city of Ica and 310 km south of Lima. |
| Weather | Huacachina can be visited all year round; it averages 25 °C in summer and can drop to 14 °C in winter, with cold nights in that season. In Paracas, the average temperature is 22 °C and the sun almost always shines. |
| Where to eat | Huacachina is a small town with various places to eat around the lagoon or on the boulevard; hotels and hostels also offer local and international food. In Paracas, on the El Chaco Boulevard, you'll find several restaurants with traditional Peruvian dishes such as ceviche. |
| Where to stay (if you extend your trip) | you can stay in the city of Ica or around the Huacachina oasis, with options such as Airbnb, hostels and hotels. |
Ballestas Islands tour in Paracas, Ica, Huacachina, dune buggies and sandboarding (full day from Lima).
The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in Miraflores, San Isidro or Barranco at 4:00 a.m. We'll travel with several stops along the way to Paracas, arriving at 8:00 a.m. to start the tour.
At 8:00 a.m., we'll board the speedboats, put on our life jackets and begin the guided boat tour to the Ballestas Islands and the view of the Candelabra. It'll be an enriching trip of about 2 hours around whimsical natural rock formations that are home to important marine wildlife, such as large colonies of guano birds, Humboldt penguins, friendly sea lions, dolphins, guanay cormorants, boobies and more.
Afterwards, you'll have free time to walk around Paracas Bay and take photos. Then we'll take you to Ica, a 45-minute drive, where we'll have free time for lunch (not included).
At 4:30 p.m., the Huacachina tour begins. Pickup at your hotel or our office will be between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m., to start the adventure circuit on the majestic dunes of Ica: a ride of pure adrenaline in dune buggies and sandboarding (sliding on boards). The circuit lasts approximately one hour.
Finally, we'll set off on the journey back to Lima, about 4 hours, arriving at your hotel in Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro around 10:30 p.m.
If you'd like a less packed itinerary, you can request changes and together we'll design the best option. Every experience is unique: design your special adventure with Perú Viajes y Aventuras and, most importantly, travel safely.
Because it's close to Lima (5 hours by vehicle), because fun is guaranteed, since its dunes are ideal for adventure sports such as sandboarding and dune buggy rides, and because of its spectacular scenery: it's known worldwide as an "oasis in the desert" and welcomes more and more visitors from all over the world.
The Huacachina lagoon is an oasis just 5 km from the city of Ica and 310 km south of Lima.
You can visit all year round without any problem. It averages 25 °C in summer and can drop to 14 °C in winter, when nights can be cold.
Paracas is a town in the province of Pisco, in the department of Ica, 260 kilometers south of Lima.
Paracas offers a distinctive, important landscape thanks to its National Reserve and great biodiversity. Besides attractions such as the Ballestas Islands and the Reserve, some people prefer it for water sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing.
In Paracas, the El Chaco Boulevard has several restaurants with varied food and traditional Peruvian dishes such as ceviche. In Huacachina, there are various options around the lagoon or on the boulevard, and hotels and hostels also offer local and international food.
Weather: Huacachina can be visited all year round; it averages 25 °C in summer and can drop to 14 °C in winter, with cold nights in that season. In Paracas, the average temperature is 22 °C and the sun almost always shines.
Where to eat: Huacachina is a small town with various places to eat around the lagoon or on the boulevard; hotels and hostels also offer local and international food. In Paracas, on the El Chaco Boulevard, you'll find several restaurants with traditional Peruvian dishes such as ceviche.
Since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and daylight. Every visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique, unrepeatable ways.
