Paracas & Huacachina Full-Day Tour
- Full Day
- Easy
- Adventure
- Day Tour
- Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina
Watch sea lions and seabirds at the Ballestas Islands, then ride the dunes around the Huacachina oasis, on a long day on Peru’s desert coast.
Trip facts
- Duration Full Day
- Difficulty Easy
- Best season Year-round (sunniest December to April)
- Transportation Road and boat
- Guide Local guide
Overview
South of Lima, Peru’s coast turns into desert, and two very different places sit within an hour of each other. Off the Paracas peninsula, the Ballestas Islands are rocky outcrops crowded with sea lions, Humboldt penguins and huge colonies of seabirds, part of a national reserve protected by Peru’s park service. Inland, near the city of Ica, the small oasis of Huacachina sits in a hollow between some of the tallest sand dunes in the region.
This full day combines both. In the morning you take a boat from Paracas to the Ballestas Islands, a trip of about two hours, passing the Candelabro, a huge figure cut into the sandy hillside of the peninsula. Visitors don’t land on the islands; the boats circle them slowly so you can watch the wildlife up close. In the afternoon you continue to Huacachina, where dune buggies take you into the desert and you can try sandboarding on the slopes, with the sun going down over the dunes. Many programs also stop at a winery in the Ica valley, the heart of Peru’s pisco country.
Before you plan it, one important point: this is a coastal trip, not a day trip from Cusco. Paracas is about three and a half to four hours by road south of Lima, so the day is usually planned as a long outing from Lima, with an early start and a late return, or broken up with a night in Paracas or Ica. Travelers coming from Cusco need to fly to Lima first. We’ll help you decide which version fits your itinerary.
DSL Adventures is based in Cusco, and we plan this day as part of your wider trip through Peru, confirming the departure point, timing, boat trip and activities with you in writing. If you’re spending time in the capital, pair it with our Lima City & Food Experience. For the other regions we can add to your trip, see Peru beyond Cusco.
Highlights
- Take a boat to the Ballestas Islands to see sea lions, penguins and seabirds
- Pass the Candelabro, a giant figure on the Paracas peninsula, from the water
- Ride dune buggies into the desert around the Huacachina oasis
- Try sandboarding on the dunes
- Visit a winery in the Ica valley on many programs
Itinerary
Early morning
Lima to Paracas
An early departure from Lima and the drive south along the desert coast to Paracas.On the day-trip version, you leave Lima very early and drive south on the Pan-American Highway, watching the city give way to desert and small coastal towns. If you’ve spent the night in Paracas, the day starts much later and closer to the dock.
- Starts
- Lima
- Ends
- Paracas
Morning
Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands
About two hours by boat to see sea lions, penguins and seabirds, passing the Candelabro figure.From the Paracas dock, a motorboat takes you out past the Candelabro, a figure more than 150 m tall cut into the hillside of the peninsula, whose origin is still debated. At the Ballestas Islands, the boat slows and circles the rocks and arches, where sea lions rest on the ledges and thousands of cormorants, boobies and pelicans nest. With luck you’ll also see Humboldt penguins. The islands are covered in guano, which was once one of Peru’s most valuable exports.
- Starts
- Paracas
- Ends
- Paracas
Boat trips can be canceled when the sea is rough. Wear the life jacket at all times.
Midday
Paracas and the Ica valley
Lunch on the coast or in Ica and, on many programs, a winery visit with a pisco tasting.After the boat trip there’s time for lunch, often fresh seafood, before driving inland to the Ica valley. Many programs stop at a winery or traditional bodega to see how pisco, Peru’s grape brandy, is made, and to taste a little of it.
- Starts
- Paracas
- Ends
- Ica
- Meals
- Lunch (when included)
Afternoon
Huacachina dunes and return
Dune buggies and sandboarding around the Huacachina oasis, sunset over the desert and the drive back.In Huacachina, a small lagoon ringed by palm trees and tall dunes, you climb into a dune buggy for a fast ride into the desert, stopping on the crests to try sandboarding. Late afternoon is the best time, when the light turns the dunes gold. Afterward you return to your hotel in Ica or Paracas, or drive back to Lima, arriving late in the evening.
- Starts
- Ica
- Ends
- Lima or your hotel
The buggy ride is fast and bumpy. Tell us about back or neck problems in advance.
What’s Included
Included
- Local guide
- Road transportation for the day (starting point confirmed with your program)
- Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands with an authorized operator
- Dune buggy ride and sandboarding in Huacachina, when shown in your confirmed itinerary
Not included
- National reserve and dock fees, unless shown in your quote
- Meals and drinks not shown in your itinerary
- Flights between Cusco and Lima
- Tips for your guide, driver and boat crew
Starting point, timing, boat trip, desert activities and every inclusion are confirmed in writing with your quote.
What to Bring
Documents
- Passport or a copy
- Cash in soles for fees, snacks and tips
Clothing
- A windbreaker or light jacket for the boat: it can be cool and breezy
- A hat that won’t blow away, or a cap
- Closed shoes or sandals you don’t mind filling with sand
Gear
- Sunglasses and a buff or scarf to keep sand out of your face on the buggy
- A bag or cover to protect your camera and phone from sand and spray
Health & personal
- Strong sunscreen and water
- Seasickness tablets if you’re prone to motion sickness
Food, Lodging & Transport
Food & meals
On a long coastal day, most programs stop for lunch in Paracas or Ica, where fresh seafood and ceviche are easy to find. Whether lunch is included is confirmed with your program. Winery visits in the Ica valley usually include a small tasting of wine and pisco.
Transportation
From Lima, the drive to Paracas along the Pan-American Highway takes about three and a half to four hours, and Huacachina is about an hour further inland near Ica. On a day trip from Lima, that means an early morning departure and a return late in the evening. A night in Paracas or Ica makes the day much more relaxed. The Ballestas Islands are reached by motorboat from the Paracas dock, and the dune rides use specialized buggies with local drivers.
Difficulty & Altitude
- Difficulty
- Easy
Fitness
This is an easy day physically, but a long one. The boat trip can be bumpy when the sea is rough, and the dune buggy ride is fast, with sharp drops over the dunes that feel like a roller coaster. Sandboarding is optional: most people ride the board lying down on their stomach, and you only need to climb back up a little. The buggy ride isn’t recommended for anyone with back or neck problems or who is pregnant.
Permits, Tickets & Rules
- Protected area. The Ballestas Islands belong to a national reserve managed by SERNANP, Peru’s park service. Visits are only allowed with authorized boat operators, and visitors don’t land on the islands.
- Fees. The reserve charges an entrance fee, and a small dock fee applies in Paracas. We confirm current amounts and whether they’re included.
- Weather. Boat trips run in the morning and can be canceled by the port authorities when the sea or wind is too strong. If that happens, we’ll adjust the day.
- Life jackets. They must be worn on the boat at all times.
Traveling with Family
Children usually love this day: the sea lions and penguins are a highlight, and sandboarding lying down is easy and fun. The buggy ride is fast and bumpy, and the buggy operators set their own age and height limits, which we check for your family. The main challenge is the length of the day from Lima, so with younger children we recommend a night on the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do this as a day trip from Cusco?
No. Paracas and Huacachina are on the coast, far from Cusco. You’d need to fly to Lima first. It’s best planned at the start or end of your Peru trip.
How long is the day from Lima?
Long: usually around 14 to 16 hours door to door, with an early start and a late return. A night in Paracas or Ica makes it much more comfortable.
Do we land on the Ballestas Islands?
No. The islands are a protected reserve, and boats circle them so you can see the wildlife from the water.
What if the boats are canceled?
The port authorities sometimes cancel boat trips when the sea is too rough. If that happens, we adjust the program, for example with more time in the Paracas reserve.
Is sandboarding safe for kids?
Most children enjoy sandboarding lying down on their stomach, which is easy and controlled. The buggy operators set their own age and height limits, and we check them for your family.
Is DSL Adventures based on the coast?
No. Our team is based in Cusco. We plan this day as part of your wider Peru itinerary and confirm the local services with you in writing.
Route
Route map coming soon
Route at a glance
- Lima (or your hotel on the coast)
- Paracas dock
- Ballestas Islands by boat
- Paracas peninsula
- Ica valley (winery on many programs)
- Huacachina oasis and dunes
- Back to Lima or your hotel
Paracas is on the coast about 250 km south of Lima; Huacachina is near the city of Ica, about an hour inland. A route map is being prepared.
Tour Video
Our video for this tour is coming soon. Until then, we’re happy to answer your questions on WhatsApp or by email.
Travel Tips for This Trip
Why DSL Adventures
Planned by a Local Team in Cusco
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Based in Cusco
Your trip is planned by people who live here and know the region’s seasons, roads and trails.
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Local Guides
Guides from the region who know the trails, the history and the communities along the way.
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Direct Communication
One conversation with the team organizing your trip, from your first question to your last day.
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Personalized Planning
Dates, pace and details shaped around your group.
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Visual Storytelling
Photos and stories from our routes help you picture each day before you go.
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Plan your trip
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