Paracas & Ballestas Islands: Pisco Tasting & Huacachina Day Trip

Sea lions, pisco and sand dunes south of Lima in one long day

You get picked up from your hotel early, spend the morning on a yacht watching sea lions and penguins around Ballestas Islands, taste Pisco and wine at a working winery in Ica, then relax at the Huacachina oasis before returning to Lima in the evening. The bilingual guide handles all the logistics and commentary, and the transport is comfortable enough that the long day doesn't wear you down.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina tour

• Travel to Paracas spa
• Board modern yachts or motor gliders
• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• Observe sea lions and Humboldt penguins
• View El Candelabro geoglyph
• Visit Pisco Nietto Winery in Ica
• Taste wine, pisco, and creams
• Visit Huacachina oasis lagoon
• Optional dune adventure with sand buggies

The experience

Our guide, Marco, picked us up at the hotel before sunrise and spent the first hour asking what we wanted to see most: the islands, the winery, or the lagoon. He wasn't trying to sell anything. He just wanted to know where to push the schedule if traffic got tight. That kind of attention set the tone for the whole day. We drove south toward Paracas in a reclining-seat coach, and Marco pointed out the desert landscape shifting from city sprawl to sand and scrub, explaining how the region's three main stops (Ballestas Islands, a Pisco winery in Ica, and Huacachina oasis) each pull from a different part of Peru's character.

The boat ride to Ballestas Islands was the centerpiece. We boarded a modern yacht at the Paracas marina and headed out into the Pacific, where the water was calm enough that morning. The islands themselves are loud and alive: sea lions barking on the rocks, Humboldt penguins diving, guano birds wheeling overhead. The captain cut the engine near the El Candelabro geoglyph, a massive trident carved into the cliff face, and nobody really knows who made it or why. You can see it from the water, and the mystery of it sits with you longer than you'd expect. The whole excursion takes about two hours from dock to dock, and the bilingual guide kept the group, maybe fifteen people, moving and pointed out details most of us would have missed.

After we got back to shore, we drove inland to the Pisco Nietto Winery in Ica's farm region. An expert worker walked us through the production process: how they ferment the grapes, how they age the spirit, the difference between a straight Pisco and a macerated one. Then came the tasting: Pisco, wine, macerates, Pisco creams. The winery staff poured generously and didn't rush us, and you could taste the care in what they'd made. It's not a fancy operation, but it's real, and the tasting felt like something locals do, not a tourist checkbox.

The last stop was Huacachina, a small lagoon surrounded by massive sand dunes about thirty minutes from the winery. The water is warm and still, and the place has an almost dreamlike quiet to it. Most people opt for the optional dune buggy or sandboard adventure (that costs extra and runs about an hour), but even if you skip it and just sit by the water, the oasis is worth the drive. We didn't do the buggy, but we watched other travelers tear across the sand and come back grinning. The whole tour wraps around sunset, and the drive back to Lima takes another two or three hours depending on traffic.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and return transport in a reclining-seat coach with bilingual guide, a yacht excursion to Ballestas Islands with views of sea lions, penguins and the El Candelabro geoglyph, a guided tour and tasting of Pisco, wine and macerates at Pisco Nietto Winery, entry to Huacachina oasis, all fees and taxes, and draws and prizes throughout the tour. Dune buggy and sandboard activities at Huacachina are optional and available for an additional cost.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish05:00

Guide in English or Spanish05:00

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

Before you book

Days and timesDaily · 05:00

Ages13 to 85 years · 4 to 12 years · Under 4 — Free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viajes Picaflor

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see three distinct parts of Peru's coast and desert in one day without renting a car or arranging separate transport and guides: the fixed itinerary and bilingual guide handle all the timing and logistics, which is what makes a 12-hour day feel manageable instead of chaotic.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

4 to 12 years; under 4, free.

How long is the full day tour?

Around 12 hours from hotel pickup to return, including the boat ride, winery visit and oasis stop.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup, bilingual guide, yacht excursion to Ballestas Islands, Pisco and wine tasting at the winery, transport in a reclining-seat coach, and entry fees. Dune buggy and sandboard activities at Huacachina are optional and cost extra.

Is the boat ride rough?

The Pacific can be choppy, but the tour operates year-round and uses modern yachts. If you're prone to seasickness, take medication before boarding.

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup is early morning, typically before sunrise, to reach Paracas for the first boat departure.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not listed in the standard inclusions. The winery tasting includes drinks and snacks, but you may want to bring or purchase food during the day.

Can I do just the islands or just the winery?

This is a combined full-day tour. All three stops (Ballestas Islands, the Pisco winery and Huacachina) are included in one itinerary.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light jacket for the boat. The sun reflects off the water and the wind can pick up. Bring cash if you want to purchase anything at the oasis or try the optional dune activities.