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 Winery (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.

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.

The experience that makes you live the beauty of this mountain of colors is inexplicable, it is really a personal encounter between you and nature. 

We want to be part of that experience that you will live in the Tour to Huacachina and Paracas. 

If you are still wondering why choose us? We would like you to read 7 outstanding characteristics of our service:

QUALITY: 

When you go to a teacher, it is because you want to answer all the questions. In a matter of travel, money, time and enjoyment, you have to choose the best options available and that is what “Guru Explorers” is all about, giving you the perfect balance for the adventure you DESERVE.

EXPERIENCE: 

To become “Guru Explorers”, we are still world travelers, but experts in Cusco, Lima, and the most important destinations in Peru. We lived bad and good experiences, valuing that the main difference lies in the details, so we know what elements are essential for your trip. We are travelers and we strive to enhance your experience!

TRANSPARENCY: 

We are here to provide you with the best and most accurate information and description of our tours. We are not supporters of hidden costs, that is why we provide the necessary information so you can choose the inclusions or upgrades you are looking for.

SECURITY: 

You entrust us with your time, your money and your expectations and that is why we fine-tune every detail to guarantee the trip you dream of.

FLEXIBILITY: 

Although we have pre-established packages; they can be adapted to your needs and to make plans that are suited to you, so that you can visit any place in Peru, with the expertise of “Guru Explorers”. We adapt trips for special occasions such as your corporate trips, honeymoon, birthday, social, cultural or sports event during your visit to Peru, offering you complete advice to achieve and exceed your expectations.

PASSION: 

Before being tour guides, we are travelers, explorers, adventurers; That makes us passionate about creating the best experiences in the time you invest for yourself and those you love.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: 

We promote Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, not affecting the traveler, nor exploiting the communities that receive it or their environment. We create more human and respectful experiences of Heritage.

Do you want a different trip to Huacachina and Paracas? We won't keep you waiting!

Huacachina

Why go to Huacachina?

Closeness to Lima

Huacachina is located 5 hours by car from the city of Lima. You will find many local tourists who enjoy the adventures that the Oasis offers.

Guaranteed fun

Being a place surrounded by dunes, they become an ideal area for practicing adventure sports and adrenaline; like Sandboarding, tours in tubular carts and walks on the sand mountains of Huacachina.

Spectacular scenery

Huacachina is known worldwide as an "Oasis in the desert", a special place endowed with incomparable landscaping, which has allowed it to gain great global recognition that translates into the visit of more and more people from all over the world.

Where to stay to sleep in Huacachina?

You have two options; stay in the city of Ica or in the surroundings of the Huacachina Oasis. In both cases there are different options such as Airbnb, Hostels, Hotels, etc.

Where to eat in Huacachina?

Huacachina is a small town with a diversity of options to eat around the lagoon or the boulevard. Hotels or hostels also offer various types of food from local to international.

Where is Huacachina located?

The Laguna de la Huacachina is an oasis located just 5 kilometers from the town of Ica and 310 kilometers south of Lima.

How is the weather in Huacachina?

Huacachina's climate is conducive to being visited throughout the year; without impediments.
 Average a temperature of 25 ° C during the Summer and could decrease to 14 ° C in Winter; it is possible to experience cold nights during this season.

Paracas

¿Where is Paracas located?

Paracas is a town located in the province of Pisco, specifically in the department of Ica. 260 kilometers south of Lima.

¿Where to eat in Paracas?

When you finish the Tour of the Ballestas Islands, you will have the opportunity to opt for various restaurants located on the Boulevard del Chaco, near the dock where the boats depart.

You will find very varied food, and the opportunity to enjoy typical Peruvian dishes such as ceviche.

¿Why visit Paracas?

Paracas shows a different and important landscape due to its Natural Reserve and great biodiversity. In addition to the tourist attractions, such as the Ballestas Islands and Reserve, there are those who prefer it to practice water sports such as Kitesurfing or Windsurfing.

¿How is the weather in Paracas?

The average climate of Paracas is 22 ° C, taking into account that it is a coastal place where the sun almost always rises.