Canyon of the Lost tour from Ica: Trek a 150-meter crack

Walk into a canyon carved by wind and water, 150 meters deep

The Canyon of the Lost tour from Ica is a guided trek through a desert canyon roughly 150 meters deep and 1.5 kilometers long, formed by riverbed and wind erosion in the Ocucaje Desert. The tour includes hotel or bus station pickup, transport to the canyon, a guided walk along sand paths past fossils and saltpeter deposits to water holes, and return transfer to Ica: all led by an English or Spanish-speaking guide. The full outing runs about 8 to 9 hours. Choose between a shared minibus with open windows or a private air-conditioned vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Excursion to Canyon of the Lost

• 6:30 a.m. hotel or bus station pickup
• Stop to buy drinks and food
• 7:30 a.m. depart to Lost Canyon
• Drive via South Pan-American Highway
• Arrive at Mirador del Cañon viewpoint
• Walk along sand path, see fossils and saltpeter
• Explore water holes in the canyon
• 11:00 a.m. depart to Ica City
• 3:00 p.m. arrive and transfer to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or bus station around 6:30 a.m., with a stop on the way to buy drinks and food for the trek. After roughly two hours on the South Pan-American Highway and a detour through the Ocucaje Desert, you arrive at the Mirador del Cañón: a viewpoint where the canyon's full depth and width come into view. Scavengers circle above. The crack stretches across the landscape in both directions.

From there you walk a sand path that descends into the canyon itself. The route passes fossils and saltpeter deposits, following the path that once carried water. The walk takes you to water holes nested inside the canyon, where the 150-meter walls rise around you. By 11 a.m. the trek ends and you head back to Ica, arriving around 3 p.m. for the return transfer to your hotel.

A live guide in English or Spanish leads the entire outing and stays with the group throughout. If you book the group option, you travel in a minibus with natural ventilation: windows open to the desert air. The private option upgrades to an air-conditioned vehicle, which matters on a full day in the sun. Children from age 4 are welcome on the tour.

What’s included

• A live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel or bus station pickup and return transfer to Ica.
• all transport to the canyon viewpoint and trailhead.
• access to the Canyon of the Lost trek.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cañón de los Perdidos group tourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Group: Note: Group services will be provided by transport with natural ventilation (open window). A van or minibus; pickup is included.

Private Cañón de los Perdidos tourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Private Cañon de los Perdidos: In private mode, the service is provided in a private vehicle with air conditioning and personalized guidance. Private duration: 6 hours. The tour lasts about 6 to 7 hours. Private Cañon de los Perdidos: On the private route, the same itinerary as the group route is followed, but in a more personalized way, with greater patience an Car or private van: The vehicle type depends on the number of people. For 2 to 3 people it is a car. For 4 to 8 pax it will be a van. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sam Travel Experiences

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want air conditioning on a full day in the desert sun. The group minibus keeps costs lower but runs with open windows. Either way, the early start and full-day commitment suit travelers who can commit the morning and afternoon. This is not a quick detour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Canyon of the Lost?

The Canyon of the Lost is a crack in the desert floor near Ica, roughly 150 meters deep and 1.5 kilometers long, carved over time by a riverbed and wind erosion. It sits in the Ocucaje Desert and is a recent addition to the region's tourist attractions.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes a live guide in English or Spanish; pickup from your hotel or bus station and return transfer to Ica; all transport to and from the canyon; and access to the canyon trek itself. You bring or buy drinks and food on the way.

Can I choose between a group tour and a private one?

Yes, you pick either the group option in a minibus with open windows or the private option in an air-conditioned vehicle at checkout. Both include the same guide, route and stops. The vehicle and climate control differ.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup is around 6:30 a.m. from your hotel or bus station, with arrival back in Ica around 3 p.m. On holidays, pickup moves to 30 minutes earlier and departs from the Plaza de Armas and Huacachina Oasis instead, with the tour ending at the Plaza de Armas.