2-Day Huacachina Tour from Lima: Stay in the Desert Oasis

Two days in the desert while others rush back to Lima

A 2-day guided tour from Lima to Huacachina with a night in the desert oasis, including a speedboat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a pisco vineyard visit with tasting, and a 2-hour dune buggy and sandboarding session at sunset. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lima are included. Accommodation in Huacachina is your choice. The defining difference: you stay after dark in the oasis and wake up there, while day-trip tours return to the city the same afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Lima to Huacachina via Paracas and Pisco

• Pickup from Lima hotels
• Drive along Peru’s coastline
• Speedboat to Ballestas Islands
• See Candelabra geoglyph
• Spot sea lions and penguins
• Guided tour and tasting at pisco vineyard
• Arrive at Huacachina oasis
• Dune buggy and sandboarding session
• Watch sunset from dunes
• Overnight stay in Huacachina

Day 2: Explore Huacachina and return to Lima

• Free time in Huacachina oasis
• Climb dunes for views
• Relax by lagoon and shop
• Board bus back to Lima
• Arrive in Miraflores late night

The experience

The bus picks you up from your Lima hotel early and heads south along Peru's coast in a luxury Peru Hop bus: air-conditioned, with reclining seats, an onboard restroom and free high-speed Wi-Fi. No stops along the way, so you can settle in for the scenic drive. A bilingual host travels with you to share stories about life in Peru you won't find in guidebooks.

Once you reach Paracas, you board a speedboat and cruise out to the Ballestas Islands, known as Peru's "Mini-Galápagos." The water fills with sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans and other seabirds in their natural habitat. On the way out, your guide points out the Candelabra geoglyph, a mysterious prehistoric carving on a coastal hill that still puzzles archaeologists. After the islands, you head inland to a traditional pisco vineyard in the Ica valley, the heart of Peru's pisco country, where you see how the national spirit is made from grape to glass and taste a range of varieties before moving on to Huacachina.

Huacachina is a small oasis surrounded by some of the tallest dunes in South America. You spend your afternoon on a 2-hour dune buggy ride across the sand, then try sandboarding before climbing to the top of the dunes to watch the sun set over the desert. That night, you stay in the oasis (book a hostel or hotel there yourself), and have the evening to explore at your own pace. The next morning, you wake up in the desert, spend a free day climbing the dunes for views over the lagoon, relaxing by the water or browsing local shops. Then you board the bus back to Lima, arriving in Miraflores around 11:30 pm to midnight, with Wi-Fi for the ride home.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Lima and return drop-off in Miraflores.
• a 2-hour speedboat tour of the Ballestas Islands with a bilingual guide.
• pisco vineyard visit with guided tasting of Peru's national spirit.
• a 2-hour dune buggy ride and sandboarding session at Huacachina with a sunset toast.
• free time to explore Huacachina on the morning of day two.
• onboard high-speed Wi-Fi and a bilingual host throughout the journey.
• a night in the desert oasis (accommodation booked separately).

Options for this experience

2 options

Regular 2-day tour departing from LimaGuide in English or Spanish · 05:30Includes pickup

PLUS 2-day tour departing from LimaGuide in English or Spanish · 05:30Complimentary cocktail at a partner restaurant in Lima with advance seat selection: choose your seat ahead of time and enjoy a free cocktail at a partner restaurant in Lima, making your experience even more special. Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 05:30, from US$ 134.10 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Peru Hop

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the Ballestas Islands and experience Huacachina without the same-day rush back to Lima. The overnight stay is what lets you wake up in the desert and have a full morning there instead of heading to the highway at dawn.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

527 verified traveler reviews

5 ★471

4 ★38

3 ★9

2 ★5

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What wildlife will I see on the Ballestas Islands boat tour?

The Ballestas Islands tour takes you out into the Pacific to spot hundreds of sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans and other seabirds in their natural habitat. On the way, your guide also points out the Candelabra geoglyph, a prehistoric carving on a coastal hill whose purpose remains unsolved.

How does the pisco tasting work at the vineyard?

At a traditional pisco vineyard in the Ica valley, a guide walks you through how Peru's national spirit is made from grape to glass, then you taste a range of artisanal varieties before continuing to Huacachina.

What's included in the dune buggy and sandboarding session?

The 2-hour dune buggy and sandboarding tour takes you across Huacachina's giant dunes, then you climb to the top to watch the sunset. The minimum age for this activity is 7 years.

Do I have to book accommodation in Huacachina, or is it included?

Accommodation in Huacachina is not included with the tour. You book and pay for a hostel or hotel there separately. This gives you the flexibility to choose where you stay and what you spend.

When does the bus return to Lima, and where does it drop me off?

The bus returns to Lima and arrives in Miraflores around 11:30 pm to midnight. If your hotel is outside Miraflores, allow for additional travel time from the drop-off point.

Is the Peru Hop bus comfortable for a long journey?

The Peru Hop bus is nearly double the size of other tour company vans, with air-conditioning, reclining seats, an onboard restroom and free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for the entire journey.