Paracas, Huacachina & Pisco Tour from Lima: Ballestas Islands, Dune Buggy & Vineyard

Summary

Boats, desert winds and pisco tastings on Peru’s wild south coast

You’ll wake up early but end up wide awake: fresh-baked bread outside Lima, sea lions on Ballestas Islands, wild dune buggy rides in Huacachina and pisco straight from a vineyard cellar. This tour blends Peru’s coast — its flavors, stories and wild spaces — with plenty of time to actually soak it all in.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit I didn’t expect to be eating bread fresh out of a clay oven before sunrise outside Lima — but that’s how this trip started. Our driver picked us up right at our Miraflores hostel (still dark out), and by the time we hit Mirasur for breakfast, I could smell woodsmoke and coffee before I even stepped off the bus. The bread was warm enough to sting my fingers a bit. It’s funny how something so simple sticks with you more than big sights sometimes.

We reached Paracas when the sun finally felt strong. Our guide, Carla, seemed to know everyone in town — she waved at fishermen hauling nets along the bay as we walked the Malecón. The Ballestas Islands boat ride was loud with seabirds and sea lions barking; salt spray on my lips, pelicans swooping low. Carla pointed out the Candelabra geoglyph carved into the sand cliffs — she said nobody really agrees who made it or why. I tried to get a photo but mostly just squinted into the wind. Later that afternoon, wandering through tunnels under Hacienda San José, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. The stories about those tunnels…well, they don’t leave you quickly.

The next day got wild fast — dune buggies in Huacachina are not for anyone scared of rollercoasters (I’m not sure if I screamed or laughed more). Sand gets everywhere. Sunset turned the dunes pinkish gold while we tried sandboarding; my first run was mostly falling but nobody cared. There’s something about that oasis at dusk — kids playing by the lagoon, music drifting from rooftop bars — that makes you want to linger.

Pisco tasting at Nietto vineyard was our last real stop before heading back north. Grapes drying in dusty sun, old clay jars lined up like sentinels in the cellar. Tasting different piscos side by side is way more fun than I thought (I still can’t pronounce “Quebranta” right). We sat around swapping stories with our guide and some locals who’d dropped by for a drink; it felt like we’d been there longer than just an hour or two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel Lima to Paracas

• Pickup from Lima hotel
• Travel south along Pacific coast
• Breakfast stop at Mirasur restaurant
• Visit Hacienda San José tunnels
• Arrive in Paracas and free time

Day 2 — Explore Paracas and Huacachina

• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• Visit Paracas National Reserve
• Travel to Huacachina oasis
• Dune buggy and sandboarding
• Evening free time in Huacachina

Day 3 — Huacachina to Lima return

• Tour and tasting at Pisco Nietto vineyard
• Afternoon free time in Huacachina
• Evening bus back to Lima

Top questions

How long is the tour from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina?

The tour lasts 3 days with round-trip transportation from Lima including stops in Paracas and Huacachina.

Is hotel pickup included for this Paracas & Huacachina tour?

Yes, door-to-door pickup and drop-off are included if your hotel is in Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro.

What activities are included at Huacachina Oasis?

The tour includes a dune buggy ride across the sand dunes and sandboarding at sunset.

Do I get to visit a pisco vineyard on this trip?

Yes, there’s a guided tour of Pisco Nietto vineyard with tastings included on day three.

Are meals provided during this 3-day Lima tour?

A local breakfast stop is included; other meals are at your own expense but there’s free time for lunch and dinner each day.

Can children join this Paracas & Huacachina adventure?

Children can join most parts of the tour; minimum age for dune buggy/sandboarding is 7 years old.

Is Wi-Fi available during travel?

The luxury coach has high-speed onboard Wi-Fi available throughout the journey.

What time do we return to Lima after visiting Huacachina?

You’ll arrive back in Miraflores around 11:30 pm to midnight depending on traffic.

What’s included

Your three days include hotel pickup and drop-off within designated zones in Lima; luxury coach travel with onboard restroom and Wi-Fi; guided tours of Ballestas Islands by speedboat; entrance to Paracas National Reserve (with option for ATV upgrade); exploration of secret slave tunnels beneath Hacienda San José; sandboarding and dune buggy rides at Huacachina Oasis; guided pisco tasting at Nietto vineyard; plus a countryside breakfast stop en route south — all led by bilingual local guides who handle logistics so you can just enjoy each moment as it comes.