Lima: Paracas, Ica & Huacachina Private Day with Wine & Sandboard

Penguins, Pisco & Sand Dunes: A Private Loop South of Lima

You board a yacht to the Ballestas Islands to see penguins and sea lions, then taste wines and Pisco at a local winery before lunch at a restaurant in Ica. After visiting the Huacachina Oasis, you ride a desert buggy through the dunes and sandboard down the slopes yourself. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, and an official guide are included. The full day is private except for the yacht, which requires a minimum of 15 passengers for safety.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paracas, Ica and Huacachina tour

• Board boat to Ballestas Islands
• Visit winery for wine and pisco tasting
• Lunch at Catador Restaurant
• Visit Huacachina Oasis and take photos
• Ride tubular vehicles in desert dunes
• Sandboarding in desert dunes

The experience

The boat engine cuts through the Pacific and suddenly the water moves, not waves, but bodies. Humboldt penguins surface in clusters, sea lions bark and slip under the hull, and you realize the Ballestas Islands are not a postcard, they're a working colony. The yacht holds at least 15 passengers for stability (if fewer book, you share the boat with other travelers for safety), and the guide points out the guano deposits, the breeding ledges, the animals that have lived here longer than anyone's been counting. After an hour on the water, you head back to the pier and the day splits into four more stops before you return to Lima.

The winery comes next: a local operation where you taste several wines and different Piscos, the grape brandy Peru is known for. The owner or staff walks you through the processing, and it's the kind of place where you can ask questions without feeling rushed. Then lunch lands at the Catador Restaurant: a starter, main course, soft drink and a Pisco toast included. Vegetarian options are available if you've flagged that ahead. You eat slowly here because the afternoon still has two major moves left, and the air-conditioned vehicle gives you time to settle before the next leg.

Huacachina Oasis appears like a mirage that actually exists: a lagoon ringed by palms in the middle of the Ica desert, and you get time to walk around, photograph it, and browse the small shops. Then the real adrenaline: you board a tubular buggy (also called a bugoui) and a driver takes you through the dunes at speed, the sand flying, the engine loud. After that ride, you switch to a sandboard, essentially a snowboard on sand, and slide down the slopes yourself. It's the kind of thing that sounds simple until you're doing it and your legs are burning and you're laughing at how hard it is to stay upright.

The whole day is private, meaning your own vehicle and your own pace, though the Ballestas boat is the one shared element for safety reasons. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are snacks on the road. Wear light clothes, bring sunscreen and sunglasses: the sun reflects off the sand and the water, and you'll feel it. The drive south takes a few hours each way, so it's a full commitment, but you're not arranging transport, tickets, lunch or timing yourself. Everything is coordinated in one vehicle with one guide.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or address pickup and return, an air-conditioned private vehicle, an official tourism guide, a yacht tour to the Ballestas Islands (shared only if your group is under 15 people, for safety), wine and Pisco tasting at a local winery, lunch with starter, main course, soft drink and Pisco toast at the Catador Restaurant (vegetarian options available), entry to the Huacachina Oasis, a desert buggy ride through the dunes, sandboarding down the slopes, and snacks during the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (1 to 12 years) · Infant (under 1): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Master Tours Perú

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see penguins, taste Peruvian wine and Pisco, eat lunch, and ride dunes and sandboard all in one day without arranging transport, tickets or timing: the private vehicle and official guide handle the logistics so you focus on the experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years); Infant (under 1): 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 24h before the start.

Is the Ballestas Islands boat tour really shared with other passengers?

Only the yacht portion is shared, and only if fewer than 15 people book. The yacht needs minimum weight for stability. If your group is smaller, you'll join other travelers on the boat. The rest of the day (vehicle, winery, lunch, dunes, sandboarding) is entirely private.

What's included in lunch?

Lunch at the Catador Restaurant includes a starter, main course, soft drink and a Pisco toast. Vegetarian options are available.

Can I sandboard if I've never done it before?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Sandboarding is part of the activity, and the guide will show you how.

What should I bring?

Light clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and slippers are recommended. The sun reflects off sand and water, and you'll be exposed for most of the day.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the winery or Huacachina?

No. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up at your hotel and returns you at the end of the day. All transport is included.

What is a bugoui or tubular?

A tubular (or bugoui) is a vehicle designed for desert riding. A driver takes you on a tour through the dunes. It's a high-energy ride, not a leisurely one.