2-Day Tour from Lima: Paracas, Ballestas Islands & Huacachina

Boat through sea lion colonies, then sandboard golden dunes in one packed weekend.

This 2-day guided tour from Lima takes you to three of Peru's most dramatic landscapes: the Ballestas Islands for wildlife viewing, the Paracas National Reserve for desert-ocean cliffs, and the Huacachina oasis for dune buggy and sandboarding. Hotel pickup in Lima neighborhoods (Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro) and return drop-off are included, along with all park entry, boat tour, and dune activities. A bilingual guide leads the route. The tour runs on luxury buses with air conditioning, restrooms and free Wi-Fi. The return arrives in Miraflores between 11:30 PM and midnight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Lima to Paracas

• Hotel pickup in Lima
• Bus ride south with Wi-Fi
• Breakfast stop at Mirasur KM 88
• Tour Hacienda San José and tunnels
• Arrive and check in at Paracas
• Free afternoon to explore Paracas

Day 2: Paracas, Huacachina, and return to Lima

• Speedboat tour to Ballestas Islands
• Explore Paracas National Reserve
• Bus ride to Huacachina oasis
• Dune buggy and sandboarding
• Bus ride back to Lima

The Experience

You get picked up from your Lima hotel in the morning and board a Peru Hop luxury bus: the kind with air conditioning and onboard restrooms, not the small vans other operators use for this route. The drive south passes through coastal towns and farmland, stopping at Mirasur for a traditional Peruvian breakfast baked fresh in rustic ovens. Along the way, your guide walks you through Hacienda San José, a 17th-century colonial estate with 17 kilometers of underground slave tunnels that tell the story of Peru's Afro-Peruvian heritage. You arrive in Paracas around 1:30 PM with the afternoon free to walk the bay, eat fresh seafood, or book an optional sunset trek.

Day two starts early. At 8:00 AM you board a speedboat from Paracas harbor bound for the Ballestas Islands. The "Galápagos of Peru." The two-hour guided excursion brings you close to sea lion colonies, Humboldt penguins, and seabirds in their natural habitat, and you'll spot the Candelabra geoglyph, a massive figure carved into the coastal cliff. From 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, you explore the Paracas National Reserve on foot, walking through rock formations and panoramic cliff views where the desert meets the Pacific. If you want more intensity, you can upgrade to an ATV tour and carve your own path through the landscape.

At 2:00 PM you arrive at Huacachina, a surreal desert oasis surrounded by towering sand dunes. At 4:30 PM the main event begins: a dune buggy ride through the golden landscape, followed by sandboarding down the sun-scorched slopes. At 7:00 PM you board the bus for the final leg back to Lima, with free Wi-Fi to share photos on the way. The bus arrives between 11:30 PM and midnight, dropping you at your hotel if it's in the designated drop-off zones.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish06:30

Guide in English or Spanish06:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lima.
• luxury bus transportation with air conditioning, restrooms and free Wi-Fi.
• a two-hour guided boat tour to the Ballestas Islands.
• entry to Paracas National Reserve with guided exploration.
• a dune buggy ride through Huacachina's sand dunes.
• two hours of sandboarding.
• a bilingual guide throughout the tour.
• all park and attraction entry fees.

Days and timesDaily · 06:30

Ages10 to 80 years · 3 to 9 years · Under 3 — Free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Peru Hop

Is this one for you?Book the PLUS option if you want the comfort and space of a full-size luxury coach for the long drive. It's the only operator on this route using them instead of small vans. Choose the Regular option if you're traveling on a tighter budget and don't mind a smaller vehicle. Either way, the two-day structure lets you see three distinct landscapes (sea cliffs, desert oasis, dunes) without rushing any of them, and the midnight return gets you back to Lima in time to sleep before a morning flight.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

3 to 9 years; under 3, free.

What exactly happens on the Ballestas Islands boat tour?

The Ballestas Islands boat tour runs for two hours departing at 8:00 AM from Paracas harbor. You'll see sea lion colonies, Humboldt penguins, and seabirds in their natural habitat, and spot the Candelabra geoglyph etched into the coastal cliffside.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay extra for?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Lima, all transportation on luxury buses, entry to Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands boat tour, the dune buggy ride, and sandboarding. Food and accommodation are not included. Meals and your overnight stay in Paracas are on your own. An optional ATV upgrade in the reserve and a sunset trek are available for additional cost.

How long is the bus ride each way, and what's the bus like?

The drive from Lima to Paracas takes most of the morning with a breakfast stop. The return from Huacachina to Lima takes about four hours, arriving between 11:30 PM and midnight. The buses are luxury coaches with air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

What time does the tour pick me up and drop me off?

Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time the day before via WhatsApp message. Pickup happens at your hotel in Miraflores, Barranco, or San Isidro (within the designated zone). Drop-off is between 11:30 PM and midnight at your hotel if it's in the designated areas. Downtown Lima locations may arrive slightly later.

What is Hacienda San José and why do we stop there?

Hacienda San José is a beautifully preserved 17th-century colonial estate that was once one of the largest plantations in the region. Your guide leads a tour of the estate and its extensive underground slave tunnels, which stretch 17 kilometers to the coast, offering insights into Peru's Afro-Peruvian heritage and the legacy that shaped coastal culture.