Paracas, Ica & Huacachina Day Trip: Ballestas & Sandboarding

Boat ride past sea lions, buggy climbs through desert dunes, then sandboard back down

A day trip from Lima to Paracas, Ica and Huacachina combines a boat tour of the Ballestas Islands with buggy rides and sandboarding in the desert oasis. Pickup from Miraflores hotels starts before 5 a.m., and the guide speaks English or Spanish. Transport, entry fees, sandboarding gear and lunch are included; children from age 6 are welcome, though the trip is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paracas, Ica and Huacachina day trip

• Pick-up at Hotel JW Marriott before 5:00 am
• Visit El Chaco Pier
• Boat ride at Ballestas Islands
• Lunch with Peruvian dishes
• Visit Winery and Piscos Nietto
• Visit Oasis of Huacachina
• Buggy ride and sandboarding in Huacachina desert
• Return to starting point

The Experience

The day starts with a pre-dawn pickup from your Miraflores hotel and a drive south to El Chaco Pier in Paracas. From there, you board a modern slider—a small passenger boat—to reach the Ballestas Islands, where you watch sea lions, penguins and seabirds in their habitat, and pass the rock formations framing the mysterious geoglyph El Candelabra. The boat ride itself is the first real moment of the day, and the sea breeze and wildlife sightings set the tone for what comes next.

After the islands, you stop for lunch at a local restaurant with Peruvian dishes, then visit Piscos Nietto, one of Peru's major wineries, to taste wines and piscos. The winery break gives you a chance to rest before the afternoon's main event: the Huacachina oasis, a freshwater lagoon surrounded by sand dunes in the middle of the desert. You board a buggy for a tour of the dunes—climbing and descending the steep sandy slopes—and then try sandboarding on the way back. This is where the adrenaline part of the day happens, and it is the reason most travelers book this trip.

The return to Lima takes the rest of the afternoon. The whole day runs 14 to 16 hours from pickup to drop-off, so you leave early and arrive back in the evening. Transport between all stops, the boat, the buggy, sandboarding gear and all entry fees are included; you only need to arrange your own meals beyond the lunch stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Miraflores before 5 a.m.
• transport to all stops.
• boat tour of the Ballestas Islands.
• winery visit with wine and pisco tastings.
• buggy tour of the Huacachina desert dunes.
• sandboarding gear and instruction.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turi Perú Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're ready for a full day combining boat, buggy, and sandboard across two landscapes—the early start and 14- to 16-hour pace work for travelers who want multiple activities in one outing rather than focusing on a single destination.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Ballestas Islands boat ride like?

The Ballestas Islands boat tour travels by modern slider through waters off the Paracas coast, where you see sea lions, penguins, cormorants and other seabirds in their natural habitat. The boat also passes the rock formations and El Candelabro, a large geoglyph carved into the cliffs. The ride lasts roughly two hours and departs from El Chaco Pier early in the morning.

Do I need sandboarding experience to do this activity?

No experience is required. Sandboarding in Huacachina is included as part of the buggy tour, and the guide will show you how to use the board on the dunes. Children from age 6 are welcome on the trip, though it is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What time does the pickup happen and where?

Pickup occurs before 5 a.m. from your hotel in Miraflores (the exact time is confirmed one day before the tour). The day trip runs 14 to 16 hours total, so you return to Lima in the evening.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch at a local restaurant with Peruvian dishes is included. The winery visit and tastings are also part of the itinerary, though any additional food or drinks you order beyond what is provided are your own cost.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or Spanish, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

What happens if the Ballestas Islands are closed to visitors that day?

If authorities do not allow entry to the islands, the operator arranges an alternative activity of equal or greater value in its place.