Paracas & Huacachina Tour: Ballestas Islands Desert Buggy

Boat through a marine reserve, then buggy across desert dunes in one long day from Lima

A full-day tour from Lima to Paracas, the Ballestas Islands, a pisco vineyard and Huacachina Oasis, with a professional guide leading the route and managing all logistics. The tour departs at 4 a.m. from Miraflores and returns around 10:30 p.m., covering roughly 17 hours. Three experience levels are available (Essential, Premium and Private) with different inclusions. The Premium option adds hotel pickup, the Ballestas Islands boat, buggy and sandboard at the oasis, and sunset time there. A small backpack or suitcase up to 10 kg per person is included. Larger luggage can be added for an extra fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Ballestas IslandsEntry included1h
2. Canyon of the LostEntry included2h

Paracas and Huacachina desert tour

• Meet at Ibis Larco Miraflores at 4:00 a.m.
• Travel Lima to Paracas (3 hours)
• Breakfast and rest at Paracas port
• Board boat at El Chaco port
• Visit Ballestas Islands (1.5 hours)
• Visit Culturpisco Winery and taste pisco
• Arrive at Huacachina Oasis, free time
• Buggies and sandboard at Huacachina (2 hours)
• Return from Ica to Lima (4 hours)

The experience

The day starts before dawn at the Ibis Larco Miraflores hotel in Lima at 4 a.m., where your guide and air-conditioned transport are waiting. The three-hour drive south takes you to Paracas port by 8 a.m., leaving time for a quick breakfast (at your own cost) before boarding a modern vessel at El Chaco. The Ballestas Islands boat trip lasts about an hour and a half. You'll move through waters thick with marine life, spot exotic birds in their habitat and see the islands' rocky formations up close. The boat returns to port by early afternoon.

From there the tour moves inland to Culturpisco, a working vineyard in the Ica region where you taste pisco, Peru's grape distillate, and learn how it's made from harvest through distillation. By mid-afternoon you arrive at Huacachina Oasis, a lagoon ringed by high sand dunes about 5 km from Ica's center. You get roughly 40 minutes to walk the perimeter, photograph the water and dunes, then spend about two hours on buggy and sandboard rides across the desert itself: the buggy portion and sandboarding together make up that stretch. The oasis sits at sunset, which is part of the Premium experience.

The return drive to Lima takes about three hours, with arrival between 10:30 and 11 p.m. A professional guide in English or Spanish travels with the group throughout, handling the boat boarding, vineyard tour, timing at each stop and the route back. The tour is designed for small groups, and the vehicle has limited luggage space: only a small backpack or suitcase up to 10 kg per person fits in the hold. If you're staying on in Huacachina and need to bring more, you can add a large suitcase for an additional cost.

What’s included

• A professional guide in English or Spanish throughout the day.
• comfortable air-conditioned transport from Lima.
• the Ballestas Islands boat experience.
• a traditional vineyard tour with pisco tasting at Culturpisco.
• free time and sunset at Huacachina Oasis.
• buggy and sandboard rides across the desert dunes (Premium option and above).
• hotel pickup from Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro (Premium option and above).

Options for this experience

5 options

Essential - Point of meetingGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Includes the meeting point, transportation, tickets, and 2 hours of buggies and sandboarding. Food and taxes are not included.

Premium - Pickup from hotelGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Includes pickup from the hotel, all entrances, 2 hours of buggies, sandboarding, and the sunset. Nutrition is not included.

With airport pickupGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Optional airport pickup is available at 3:30 a.m. at the latest, to join the group leaving from Miraflores.

See 2 more options

Exclusive private serviceGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00 and 05:00Private service with pickup from the hotel or the airport. Includes crossbows, vineyard visit, buggies, sandboard, sunset, and taxes.

Deluxe: sunset and picnicGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Includes pickup from the hotel, transportation, guide, crossbows, vineyard visit, buggies, basic sandboard, sunset, taxes, and a picnic.

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

Before you book

Lasts 17h, runs every day at 04:00 and 05:00, from US$ 80 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00 and 05:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (7 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Inca Trilogy Tours S.A.C

Is this one for you?Choose the Premium option if you want the Ballestas Islands boat, buggy rides and hotel pickup included: the guide and fixed schedule handle the logistics so you move through three regions and four activities without arranging transport or timing yourself. The Essential option works if you're comfortable with fewer inclusions and can arrange your own breakfast and lunch. The Private option suits groups who want the full experience without sharing the vehicle.

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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: Youth (7 to 11 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 happens on the Ballestas Islands boat trip?

The Ballestas Islands boat trip lasts about an hour and a half and takes you out into the waters off Peru's coast, where you observe marine fauna (sea lions, penguins, otters and other wildlife) in their natural habitat and watch exotic birds on and around the rocky islands. The boat is a modern vessel departing from El Chaco port.

Is breakfast or lunch included in the tour price?

Breakfast and lunch are not included. You have 30 to 40 minutes at Paracas port in the morning to buy breakfast on your own before boarding the boat. The pisco tasting at Culturpisco vineyard is included, but no meal accompanies it.

What's the difference between the Essential, Premium and Private options?

The Essential option covers the guide, transport and pisco tasting. The Premium option adds hotel pickup from Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro, the Ballestas Islands boat trip, buggy and sandboard rides at Huacachina, and sunset time at the oasis. The Private option is an exclusive service for your group. Review each option's details before booking to choose what fits your needs.

How much luggage can I bring on the tour?

You can bring a small backpack or suitcase up to 10 kg per person on the bus. If you need to carry more (for example, if you're staying longer in Huacachina), you can add a large suitcase for an additional $30 per unit.

What time does the tour start and when do I get back to Lima?

The tour departs at 4 a.m. from the Ibis Larco Miraflores hotel in Lima (or from your hotel if you book the Premium option with pickup). You're scheduled to arrive back in Lima between 10:30 and 11 p.m., making it roughly a 17-hour day.

What should I bring for the Ballestas Islands boat and the desert activities?

For the boat trip, bring sunblock, a sun hat or cap and a waterproof jacket. The sun and spray are both strong on the water. For the buggy and sandboard at Huacachina, wear clothes you don't mind getting sandy and closed-toe shoes if possible. Sunscreen is essential for the desert as well.