The best of Huacachina and Paracas in 2 days

Itinerary of the Huacachina & Paracas Tour in 2 days!

DAY 1

08:00 hs – 12:30 hs | Departure from Lima to Ica

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, our driver will pick you up in private transport to begin the journey to Ica. The trip will take approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes along the Panamericana Sur highway, with brief stops upon passengers' request to buy snacks or use restrooms.

12:30 hs | Visit to La Caravedo Distillery – Lunch – Guided Tour – Pisco Tasting

Upon arrival in Ica, we will head to La Caravedo, a historic distillery founded in 1684, considered the oldest in the Americas still in continuous operation. At this iconic bodega, you will enjoy lunch and take part in a guided tour (in Spanish or English) of its facilities, where you will learn about the pisco-making process, Peru’s national spirit.

Additionally, at the end of the tour, you will have the chance to taste some of their most representative varieties and discover what makes this beverage so unique by identifying its aromas, flavors, and characteristics depending on the grape type and distillation method.

15:00 hs | Adventure in the Huacachina Oasis: Shared Buggy Ride and Sandboarding

After lunch, we will head to the legendary Huacachina Oasis, surrounded by towering golden sand dunes. This natural oasis has been a haven for adventurers and nature lovers for decades.

Here, an exciting adventure awaits aboard shared buggies — off-road vehicles that will take you on an adrenaline-filled circuit across the dunes.

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

During the tour, you’ll also have the chance to try sandboarding — sliding down the desert slopes using a special board, either sitting or lying down. If you prefer, you can opt for a professional snowboard-style board to ride standing up (optional at an additional cost).

After the activity, you’ll have free time to explore the oasis, take stunning photos, and enjoy this unique landscape.

18:00 hs | Transfer to Paracas and Hotel Check-in

Once the tour is over, we will continue the journey to Paracas (approximately 1 hour). Upon arrival, we’ll check in at your hotel and provide general information for the next day’s tour.

DAY 2

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out

After an early breakfast, you'll get ready for a day full of nature, history, and marine landscapes.

10:00 hs | Ballestas Islands Tour

Our transportation will pick you up and take you to El Chaco tourist pier, where you will board a shared boat for the Ballestas Islands tour. During the journey, a guide on board will provide complete information in Spanish or English, as appropriate. Departures take place between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., depending on the season and the order assigned by the port authorities.

During the navigation, you will see the enigmatic geoglyph El Candelabro, a figure over 180 meters long etched into the sand, whose origin remains a mystery. Some relate it to the Nazca Lines, while others believe it was a signal for ancient sailors.

The journey continues toward the islands, where you will admire impressive rock formations that are home to thousands of guano birds, sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, Inca terns, and occasionally dolphins.

The tour is conducted entirely from the boat, allowing you to observe the wildlife without disturbing their habitat.

Important: This activity is subject to sea conditions. In case of strong waves or high tides, departures may be suspended by port authorities for safety reasons, even on the same day of the tour.

12:00 hs – 13:30 hs | Free time to explore the bay and have lunch in Paracas

After returning to the pier, you'll have free time to stroll around the Paracas resort town and enjoy lunch. The area offers a wide variety of restaurants, most specializing in fresh seafood such as ceviche, mixed fried seafood (jalea mixta), seafood rice, among other typical dishes from the Peruvian coast.

13:30 hs | Guided Tour of Paracas National Reserve and Julio C. Tello Site Museum

After lunch, our private transportation will pick you up to begin a guided tour of the Paracas National Reserve, one of the most iconic protected natural areas in the country. The tour is conducted with a guide in Spanish or English and lasts approximately two and a half hours.

The experience begins with a visit to the Julio C. Tello Site Museum, where you'll learn more about the ancient Paracas culture, noted for its medical advances such as cranial trepanations and refined textile art. The museum displays valuable archaeological pieces that offer a fascinating glimpse into the pre-Columbian past of this region.

Then, you’ll visit several points within the reserve: the flamingo viewpoint, where you can observe these birds feeding in their natural habitat during certain seasons; the Independence Isthmus, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean; and the emblematic rock formation known as La Catedral, which partially collapsed during the 2007 earthquake but remains an imposing sight. You’ll also visit Playa Roja, famous for its reddish sand caused by volcanic erosion, and the serene Lagunillas and La Mina beaches, ideal for admiring the beauty of the desert coast.

This tour is an enriching experience that combines history, archaeology, and nature, allowing you to explore one of Peru’s most unique ecosystems, where the desert meets the sea.

15:30 hs | Return to Lima

At the end of the visit, we will begin the journey back to Lima. The trip will take approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic.

20:00 hs approx. | Arrival in Lima and end of the tour

Our private transportation will drop you off at your hotel in the district of Miraflores, San Isidro, or Barranco, marking the end of this wonderful 2-day, 1-night tour.

Note: The itinerary times are referential and may be adjusted according to the availability of the scheduled activities.

The price of the tour to Huacachina and Paracas includes:

• Private transportation Lima – Huacachina – Paracas – Lima, with pickup and drop-off at hotels located in the city of Paracas (availability for other areas upon request).
• Private Spanish-speaking driver
• Lunch at Bodega Hacienda La Caravedo on Day 1 (1 starter option to choose from 3 available choices, 1 main course option to choose from 3 available choices)
• All entrance fees or charges (SERNANP, Bodega, Ballestas Islands, Huacachina, El Chaco pier)
• Shared ride in dune buggies (areneros) and sandboarding activity on the Huacachina dunes.
• Sandboarding board for sitting or lying down. No previous experience required.
• Guided tours:
  • Private guided tour in English or Spanish through the Paracas National Reserve and Julio C. Tello Museum
  • Shared tour to the Ballestas Islands (life jacket & guide in Spanish or English)
  • Shared guided tour in English or Spanish (approx. 35 minutes) and pisco tasting at Bodega La Caravedo

The price of the tour to Ica does not include:

• Private guide from Lima. Guided activities have their own local guide.
• Professional sandboarding equipment – snowboard-type board for standing slides. It can be added at the time of booking in the Adds On section, after completing the participant details, for 55 USD per person.
• Breakfasts, dinners, lunch on day 2
• Drinks
• 1 night at Casa Andina Select Paracas 4* hotel with breakfast included. It can be added at the time of booking in the Adds On section, after completing the participant details.

¿ What to bring for the two-day tour to Huacachina and Paracas?

• 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.

Important considerations for the tour to Ica

• 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.

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.

We want to be part of this experience where you will live on The best of Huacachina and Paracas in 2 days!

If you are still wondering why choose us, we would like you to read 7 outstanding features of our service:

1. QUALITY: When you go to a teacher, it's because you want to answer all the questions. When it comes to travel, money, time and enjoyment we are looking for something similar and that is what Guru Explorers is all about, giving you the perfect balance for the adventure you DESERVE.
2. EXPERIENCE: To become Guru Explorers, we are still world travelers, but experts in Cusco, Lima, and the most important destinations in Peru. We live bad and good experiences, valuing that in the details is the difference, that's why we know what elements are essential for your trip. ¡We are travelers and we strive to enhance your experience!
3. TRANSPARENCY: We are here to provide you with the best information and description of our tours. We do not support hidden costs. We provide the necessary information so you can choose the inclusions or upgrades you are looking for.
4. SAFETY: You trust 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.
5. FLEXIBILITY: Although we have pre-established packages; we adapt to your needs and make tailor-made plans for you to visit any place in Peru with the expertise of a Guru Explorers. We adapt trips for special occasions such as your corporate travel, honeymoon, birthday, social, cultural or sporting event in your visit to Peru, offering you complete advice to achieve and exceed your expectations.
6. 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 you and those you love.
7. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: We promote Responsible and Sustainable Tourism without affecting the traveler or exploiting the host communities or their environment. We create experiences that are more humane and respectful of heritage.

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