Paracas & Huacachina tour: Islands, wine, dune buggies

Penguins, wine, and desert adrenaline in one long day south of Lima

A full-day tour from Lima combines a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands to see Humboldt penguins and sea lions, a wine and pisco tasting at an Ica vineyard, and dune buggy and sandboarding adventure at the Huacachina oasis. Hotel pickup is included. The guide speaks English and Spanish. The day runs roughly 18 hours from early morning pickup through late evening return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ballestas Islands5h · entry included
2. Canyon of the Lost5h

Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina tour

• Hotel pickup early morning
• Travel to Paracas (3 hours)
• Visit Ballestas Islands and see marine fauna
• Return to port and rest
• Transfer to Ica (1.5 hours)
• Lunch and wine tasting in Ica
• Travel to Huacachina oasis
• Sandboarding and dune buggy adventure
• Return to Lima (6 hours)

The experience

The tour starts with a 5:00 am pickup from your Lima hotel, heading south along the coast toward Paracas. The three-hour drive takes you to the port for a boat trip out to the Ballestas Islands, where you'll watch Humboldt penguins, guanay birds and sea lions in their natural habitat. After returning to shore and a brief rest, you transfer inland to Ica (about an hour and a half away), where you have time for lunch on your own before visiting a local vineyard for wine and pisco tastings.

The final leg lands you at Huacachina, the desert oasis famous for its towering dunes. Here the pace shifts to pure adrenaline: you'll ride dune buggies across the sand and try sandboarding down the slopes. The operator pairs these activities with the landscape itself: the oasis sits in the middle of the desert, so the contrast is part of what you're there to experience. After the adventure winds down, the return drive to Lima takes about six hours, with an estimated arrival around 10:00 pm.

A professional guide travels with the group throughout the day and handles all the logistics: transportation between stops, entry to the Ballestas Islands, and the vineyard visit. You'll need to budget separately for lunch in Ica, but everything else is arranged. The itinerary packs a lot into one stretch, so it's built for travelers who want variety over a single focus.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lima.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance fees to the Ballestas Islands.
• boat trip to see marine wildlife.
• wine and pisco tasting at an Ica vineyard.
• dune buggy rides at Huacachina.
• sandboarding in the desert.
• all tourist transportation between stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 to 65 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Magic Experiences Perú

Is this one for you?The 18-hour commitment means this tour fills your entire day and evening, so it works best if you have only one day to spend south of Lima and want to pack multiple experiences into it. If you prefer a shorter outing or want to linger at any single stop, a more focused day trip would suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What will I actually see on the Ballestas Islands boat trip?

The Ballestas Islands boat trip lets you observe Humboldt penguins, guanay birds and sea lions in their natural habitat. The boat departs from Paracas after your three-hour drive from Lima and returns to shore before you continue inland to Ica.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch, or is it included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll have free time in Ica to find a meal on your own before the wine and pisco tasting at the local vineyard.

Are there any health restrictions I should know about before booking?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. The dune buggy rides and the long driving day involve physical demands worth considering beforehand. The tour is otherwise suitable for all fitness levels.

What time does the tour start and when will I be back in Lima?

Hotel pickup happens around 5:00 am, and you'll return to Lima around 10:00 pm the same day. The full day runs approximately 18 hours from start to finish.