Spend a full day from Lima exploring Ballestas Islands wildlife, touring South America’s oldest vineyards with pisco tastings, and finishing with sunset buggies and sandboarding at Huacachina. This all-inclusive run covers transport, meals, and activities for a single, long coastal desert day.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
A salt spray prickles the air as the highway loosens Lima behind you — desert opens like a folded map, pale and wide. By midmorning the sea narrows into the Ballestas archipelago: speedboat wakes carve through kelp beds while colonies of sea lions roar and Humboldt penguins bob among cormorants. Later, sun-bleached vineyards spill across low terraces in Ica, where the region’s long pisco tradition is laid out over barrels and tasting flights. The day closes at Huacachina: a pocket of green around a small lagoon, its dunes glowing gold as buggies climb ridgelines and sandboards whistle down steep faces at sunset.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
15–16 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; expect multiple short walks, sand travel and some bumpy vehicle rides
Wildlife
History
The Paracas region has archaeological sites and textiles dating back over 2,000 years; the Candelabra geoglyph predates the Inca and its purpose remains debated.
Conservation
Ballestas lies adjacent to Paracas National Reserve — respect viewing distances, avoid throwing objects from boats, and follow guides to reduce disturbance to breeding colonies.
Reserve your spot on the From Lima: All-Inclusive Day trip to Paracas & Huacachina Oasis today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring motion-sickness remedies
The speedboat to Ballestas can be choppy; take anti-nausea meds or ginger beforehand if you’re prone to seasickness.
High sun exposure
Coastal desert sun is intense even in cooler months — wear SPF 50, a brimmed hat, and UV sunglasses.
Sturdy footwear for dunes
Closed-toe shoes or sport sandals protect your feet on hot sand and during buggy transfers.
Time your camera battery
Long transfer days and dusk light at Huacachina mean you’ll want spare batteries or a power bank.
Sunscreen SPF 50+
Protects against intense coastal desert sun during boat and dune segments.
summer
Closed-toe shoes
Keeps sand out and protects feet during dune climbs and buggy transfers.
Light windproof jacket
Useful for cool mornings on the boat and after sunset at Huacachina.
winter
Seasickness medication or ginger
Reduces nausea risk on the speedboat to the Ballestas Islands.