Full day Tour to Huacachina and Paracas (Ballestas Islands) + Pisco Distillery

Itinerary of the Huacachina and Paracas Tour:

05:30 – 09:30 | Pick-up at accommodation and travel to Paracas

The adventure begins when our driver picks you up at your accommodation at 5:30 a.m. to start a journey of approximately 4 hours in private transport to the charming coastal town of Paracas, south of Lima. Along the way, we will make a brief stop so you can use the restroom and buy some snacks.

Paracas – Ballestas Islands Tour (shared service)

Upon arrival in Paracas, you will board a shared boat to take a guided tour in English or Spanish to the Ballestas Islands. The entire tour takes place from the boat. From the sea, you’ll be able to see the famous geoglyph El Candelabro, a figure 180 meters long and 1.2 meters deep, which is part of the enigmatic Nazca Lines group. In addition, you will witness the impressive rock formations of the islands and their abundant marine wildlife. You may observe guano birds such as pelicans, guanay cormorants, and Peruvian boobies, as well as Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and even, with a bit of luck, dolphins.

Upon returning to the port, you’ll have free time to walk around Paracas Bay and enjoy the scenery.

In the exceptional case that the tide is high and navigation is not possible for safety reasons, we will visit the Paracas National Reserve, an area of 335,000 hectares known for its unique landscapes and its history as a former marine area.

Transfer to Ica – Lunch, visit and Pisco tasting at La Caravedo distillery

After the tour, we’ll continue the journey for 1.5 hours until we reach Ica. We’ll visit the historic La Caravedo distillery, founded in 1684, considered the oldest in the Americas. Here you’ll enjoy a tourist lunch and take part in a guided tour of the facilities to learn about the production process of pisco, Peru’s national spirit. At the end, we’ll do a tasting of its most well-known varieties.

Huacachina Oasis – Buggies and sandboarding on the dunes

After lunch, we’ll head to the famous Huacachina oasis, surrounded by towering dunes in the middle of the desert. There, an adrenaline-filled adventure awaits you aboard powerful buggies, on an off-road ride across the desert.

During this activity, you can also try sandboarding, sliding down the dunes on a special board, either sitting or lying down. If you wish to do it standing with a professional board, you can include it as an extra.

Important: This activity is not recommended for elderly people, pregnant women, or individuals with heart conditions due to the intense and abrupt movements during the ride.

Additionally, you’ll have free time before or after the buggy activity to explore the beautiful Huacachina oasis and take amazing photos.

Return to Lima

At the end of the day, we will begin the return journey to Lima in our private transport. The trip takes approximately 4 hours, and your arrival at the hotel is expected around 10:00 p.m.

The price of the Huacachina + Paracas + Pisco Winery tour includes:

• Private transportation Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Lima
• Private Spanish-speaking driver
• Lunch at Hacienda La Caravedo distilery (1 starter option to choose from 3 available, 1 main course option to choose from 3 available)
• All entrance fees or charges (SERNANP, Winery, Ballestas Islands, Huacachina, El Chaco Pier)
• Shared ride in dune buggies (areneros) and sandboarding activity on the dunes of Huacachina
• Sandboarding board for sliding while seated or lying down. No prior experience required.
• Guided tours:
  • Shared tour to the Ballestas Islands (life jacket & guide in Spanish or English)
  • Shared and guided visit in English or Spanish (approx. 35 minutes) and pisco tasting at La Caravedo Winery

The price of the Huacachina tours does not include:

• Private guide from Lima. Guided activities include a local guide.
• Professional sandboarding equipment – snowboard-style board for sliding while standing. It can be added at the time of booking in the Adds-On section, after completing the participant information, for 55 USD per person.
• Breakfast, dinner
• Drinks

What to bring to the Huacachina and Paracas Tour?

• Passport or national ID.
• Travel insurance.
• Cash (local currency) for personal expenses.
• Personal medication.
• Sun hat or cap.
• Sunglasses: important to protect your eyes from the sand during the dune buggy ride.
• Sunscreen.
• Comfortable shoes for the visit.
• Light and comfortable clothing. Paracas is known for its winds, so bringing a windbreaker jacket is an excellent option.
• Camera.
• Bandana (optional) to protect your face from the sand. You can buy one from local street vendors right there.

What considerations should you have when doing the Huacachina and Paracas Tour?

• Remember that, since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and the natural daylight. Each visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique and unrepeatable ways.

Not allowed:

• Pets.
• Smoke.
• Large suitcases or bags.

According to Peruvian regulations, foreign tourists may be exempt from the local tax IGV (VAT). As a formal and registered travel agency, we are required to submit to the local authorities a copy of the document you used to enter the country, as well as your date of entry. For this reason, a few days before your arrival, we will contact you to request a photo of that document and ask you to let us know the date you entered Peru. If we do not receive this information, we will be required to add the 18% corresponding to the IGV tax. 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cancellation Policy

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 20% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 40% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount

Date changes

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 5% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 10% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount
• Subject to availability.
• There will be no refunds in case of delayed flights, train delays, bad weather, or other external factors.

Force Majeure Policy

• Guru Explorers values your time and makes every effort to follow the itinerary. However, it may be affected by force majeure events such as weather conditions, rain, natural disasters, protests, roadblocks, or other circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, no refunds or compensation will be provided, as these are unforeseeable and unavoidable situations. Nonetheless, we will do everything possible to offer efficient alternatives and solutions for your enjoyment. Any additional costs resulting from changes or alternative activities will be the responsibility of the client and not Guru Explorers.