Peru · Desert Adventure

1-Day Safari and Sandboarding Tour in Ica with Ballestas Islands

1 Day Round trip from Lima Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Cruise to the Ballestas Islands and watch sea lions in their natural habitat
  • 02 See El Candelabro, the giant geoglyph that guides sailors along the coast
  • 03 Feel the adrenaline rush of dune rides and sandboarding in Huacachina
  • 04 Explore the theme park of the Witches of Cachiche and hear the town's mystical stories
  • 05 Taste regional wines, piscos, creams, macerates, Cachina, and traditional sweets

Go on an excursion through the spectacular coastal and desert landscapes of Ballestas Islands and Ica, where wildlife encounters, local traditions, and adventure come together in a single day. Cruise past El Candelabro and the Ballestas Islands to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guaneras birds, and striking rock formations shaped by wind and waves. In Huacachina, feel the adrenaline rush of riding across the dunes and sandboarding, then continue to Cachiche to discover the fascinating stories of this mystical town. The experience also includes regional flavours, traditional sweets, and tastings of local wines, piscos, creams, macerates, and Cachina.

They often approach the tourist boats and jump around, creating a show that fully justifies the visit.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Ica, Chincha Alta, Lima, Ballestas Islands, Paracas
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Dunes, and Ica Flavours

  • Get picked up from Lima by your guide and arrive at the Paracas Tourist Marina for an excursion to the Ballestas Islands, where you will take a fibreglass slider ride.

  • En route, see "El Candelabro", a large geoglyph that serves as a lighthouse for sailors.

  • Continue to the Ballestas Islands, where you can view sea lions in their natural habitat. They often approach the tourist boats and jump around, creating a show that fully justifies the visit. You will also appreciate the Humboldt penguins, guaneras birds, the guano exploitation area, and stone formations caused by the erosion of wind and waves. The slider ride lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

  • Depart for the province of Ica with your Ica tour guide.

  • Practice one of the fascinating sports in the huge dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon area: the table on sand, popularly called sandboarding. You will also ride through the dunes in sandboxes, where you will experience a full rush of adrenaline.

  • Visit the theme park of the Witches of Cachiche to learn the stories that involved this mystical town years ago.

  • Fuel up at a restaurant in Subtanjalla. Enjoy free time for lunch and photos.

  • Proceed to taste different types of wines, piscos, creams, and macerates from the area, making a toast with the most characteristic phrases of the region.

  • Stop at the local wine shop, where you can taste various wines, including Cachina, an emblematic drink of Chincha.

  • Return to Lima.

Ballestas Islands, Huacachina dunes, Paracas Candelabra

Where this trip takes you

Ballestas Islands, Huacachina dunes, Paracas Candelabra

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Lima 5 cities · 1 Day

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private tourist transportation from Lima: round trip

  • Official Ica tourist guide and tour driver

  • Light breakfast (snacks and juice)

  • Excursion to the Ballestas Islands

  • Life jacket

  • Local guide

  • Ride in areneros cars in the dunes of Huacachina

  • Sandboard for use in the dunes

  • Free time to have lunch in Subtanjalla

  • Tasting of wines and piscos at the Nietto - Subtanjalla Winery

  • Stop at the wine shop El Garrafón with unlimited tasting of wines and Cachina

  • Tasting of traditional sweets: Texas and chocotejas

  • Cost of access tax to the Paracas Reserve

  • Cost of the entrance tax to the dunes

  • Personalized attention and emergency kit

  • Group photographs during the tour

What's Not Included

  • Anything not specified above

  • Lunches or dinners

  • Bank taxes for transfers in Peru are not included

Know before you go

  • It's a private tour.

  • Important information: the client must assume all banking costs. To identify your payment, please indicate your tax identification number at the moment the operation is made.

  • Please attach the voucher or transfer it to the email.

  • The price quoted is per passenger.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Lima, Peru
Tour start
Lima, Peru
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 1 day finishes where it began, in Lima.

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Starting from

USD 199 /person
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