Ica

Wine tasting & winery tours

Explore the stunning landscapes outside Lima as you journey to Paracas and Huacachina. Begin your adventure at 6:00 am with direct transportation to Paracas, a charming seaside town, on a comfortable 4-hour ride. Upon arrival, embark on a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos, where you can observe sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and a variety of birds in their natural habitat. After a lunch break, continue to Huacachina, a picturesque oasis in the Ica Desert, known for its towering sand dunes, some of the largest in South America. Enjoy some free time to explore before heading out on an exhilarating buggy and sandboarding adventure (optional - extra fee) across the dunes—an unforgettable experience in South America's only natural desert oasis. In the evening, relax on the bus ride back to Lima, arriving around 11:45 pm, with drop-off at the same location as your pickup.

Discover the incredible landscapes outside Lima, on your way to Paracas and Huacachina. Experience a chance to see sea lions and Humboldt penguins on the Ballestas Islands visit the oasis in Huacachina on a buggy ride and slide down the dunes. Begin your day at 6:00 am and relax during direct transportation to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, this is a 4-hour ride. Arrive in Paracas and begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and birds up close and all in their natural habitats. Take a lunch break and then travel from Paracas to Huacachina, an oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to some of the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here before going on the buggy and sandboarding tour. Go up the dunes on a buggy and sandboard down on this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. Board the bus back to Lima in the evening, just sit back and relax. Be dropped off at the same place we pick you up from, approximately arrival in Lima is around 11:45 pm.

Explore Huacachina, the only oasis in Peru, in a truly thrilling way. Ride over the sand dunes in a 4x4 buggy before then taking part in a sandboarding session. Start with pickup from Ica or Huacachina. Head to the oasis, and get the adrenaline pumping with a dune buggy ride. Feel as if you’re on a rollercoaster as you go up and down dunes of up to 30 meters in height. Take stops to snap photos of the desert landscape and the small lake surrounded by palm trees. Next, try your hand at sandboarding down those same dunes. This experience is suitable for all skill levels, as you’ll be learning the best techniques from your driver. Afterward visit one of the highlights of Huacachinha, the sunset over the desert. Enjoy incredible views of the sun going down, and find the best spot to snap photos with the help of your driver. Choose the private option if you’d like to tailor the tour to your group’s preferences. Select a different route, explore other areas, and adjust the starting time.

The activity begins by meeting our team at one of our offices, where you can leave your belongings if you wish. From there, we'll head to the vibrant port of Paracas, where you'll meet our expert bilingual guide. Before boarding, you'll receive valuable recommendations to make the most of this exciting adventure. Onboard our Eco-friendly boats, we'll venture into the enigmatic bay of Paracas. Our first stop will be the imposing Candelabra of Paracas, a gigantic geoglyph standing 120 meters tall, carved into the side of a cliff. Immerse yourself in the fascinating stories of its origin, some of which even suggest extraterrestrial connections, predating the famous Nazca Lines! Next, we'll journey beyond the bay to the majestic Ballestas Islands, renowned for their diverse wildlife. Get up close to the numerous species that call these islands home, from playful sea lions to adorable Humboldt penguins, and a multitude of guano birds like guanays, boobies, pelicans, and tendrils. Our expert guide will share with you the fascinating history of these islands and their vital role in regional biodiversity. After marveling at the wildlife, we'll return to the port, where you can delight in the breathtaking coastal views and capture unforgettable memories in photographs. Feel the sea breeze caress your face as we speed back to shore. Finally, we'll arrive at the port, where we'll disembark, filled with memories of a truly unforgettable experience in the Ballestas Islands.

Discover the serene landscapes of the Peruvian countryside on a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with hotel transfers included. See Humboldt penguins and sea lions on the Ballestas Islands and slide down the Huacachina dunes by sandboarding and dune buggy ride.  Your adventure begins with an early-morning pickup from your hostel or hotel. From here, travel to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 4-hour ride. We are the ONLY company that offers luxury buses for the long journey, others use small minivans. Once in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and all in their natural habitats. You may even get the chance to see a dolphin or two. Around lunchtime, it's time to move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here. Explore and have lunch (at your own expense) in one of the local restaurants around the oasis. Following lunch, it will be time for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Dune buggy up the sand dunes and sandboard down these giant hills of sand, a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. In the evening, board your bus back to Lima. Once onboard, sit back and relax on the comfortable seats while you enjoy a movie on board. You will later be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima.

We leave Lima at 5:00 AM, and the first stop will be at the Paracas pier around 9:30 AM, where you'll go through the checkpoint and board the boats to venture into the amazing marine world around the Ballestas Islands for about two hours. The initial point of interest will be the sand figure known as "El Candelabro," where the guide will explain you the different theories about its origin and purpose. The adventure will continue sailing around the islands, surrounded by rich marine life, including sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and various seabirds. You won't want to miss capturing these moments with your camera! Afterward, you'll head to Ica in about an hour-long journey, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch and a fun local wine and pisco tasting at the restaurant and winery. Then, you'll make your way to the Huacachina Oasis. Upon arrival, you'll board the dune buggies to explore Ica's extensive sand dunes from top to bottom. You'll also experience the thrill of sliding down the dunes on sandboards. After this adrenaline-filled experience, you'll have plenty of time to stroll around the oasis, take photos, and perhaps do some shopping. At 5:30 PM, you'll start the journey back to Lima, arriving at around 10:30 PM at the pickup point, thus concluding this exciting day full of discoveries and adventures. If you would like to stay in Huacachina because you have other destination from there, then just let us know and this is after the ride on buggy and the sandboarding.

After your early morning collection, make a stop at an artisanal bakery to grab something for the road. Arrive in Paracas and head to El Chaco port, located in the Bay of Paracas. From here, sail to the Islas Ballestas in a modern boat and take in the beautiful view of the islands. As you sail, keep an eye out for marine wildlife, such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, black cormorants called guanays, and different types of marine birds. Then, it's time to eat. Visit a winery called "NIETO" and dine in the restaurant inside. After lunch, it's tasting time. Here, learn how to make the Peruvian pisco with a guide. Then, test your knowledge and taste the different types of pisco produced locally. Continue to Ica (Huacachina) and feel the peacefulness as you walk around the scenic lake. Then, get your adrenaline flowing on a dune buggy and sandboarding tour in Huacachina. Begin with a thrilling 4WD ride through the dunes with an experienced driver. Once you've reached the top of the dunes, you can give sandboarding a try. Finally, begin the return journey. Make one last stop on the road at “Racimo de Uva," where you can pick up some snacks or souvenir gifts, including wine, pisco, Peruvian drinks, and traditional cookies. Return time to Lima - approximately 10:30pm

Dare to explore the dunes of the Huacachina desert aboard powerful buggies. Enjoy a tremendous adrenaline rush with this activity! The tour begins at 4:00 p.m., we will head towards the majestic Huacachina Desert, located about five kilometers from the city of Ica to begin a buggy tour. Upon arrival, we will learn the history of the famous oasis of Huacachina. Later, we will begin the buggy adventure through the desert, where we will be able to photograph the exotic landscapes of this natural space. Then we will stop to practice sandboarding, which is one of the most popular activities in the desert, aboard a special board equipped to ride on the sand. Once the sandboarding activity is finished, we will return to the Huacachina lagoon through the sandy Peruvian desert.

Depart from the boat dock in Paracas at 8:00 am for your visit to the Ballestas Islands archipelago. As you cruise west from the tiny beach town of Paracas, you won't be able to miss the Candelabra geoglyph, a 150m high and 50m wide figure of a candlestick etched into the mountain, rumored to have been an ancient guide for sailors or a connection to the Nazca lines. A short description and time for photos is given before cruising on to the famous Ballestas Islands. Ballestas islands is an excellent opportunity to see large families of over 100 sea lions sleeping on the shores, basking in the sun on the rocks or some barking loudly in efforts to protect their territory. Spot cormorants, the Peruvian booby and Peruvian pelican as well as other impressive varieties of sea bird species and Humboldt penguins nesting together in small groups. Feeling lucky? Watch the waters for dolphins. Apart from the abundant marine and bird life found here, the Ballestas Islands are also very well known for the guano (seabird droppings) deposited on the island over thousands of years which creates a natural reserve of nitrogen-rich fertilizer over 50 meters deep in some areas. The guano came to be Peru's #1 export in the mid-19th century however today the extraction of guano has been regulated to every 10 years. The return trip to Paracas is a quick, very windy, direct boat ride to the dock. Upon arrival at 10:00 am, your first tour comes to an end. You should have some time to take photos of the friendly pelicans that hang out on the shoreline beside the dock. Then make your way to the same departure point for your next tour. At 11:00 am depart to the Paracas National Reserve for a guided tour through this pristine and unique natural reserve located south of the town of Pisco. Visit the Mirador de Flamencos and see flamingos eating at the shore, continue your adventure towards the Centro de Interpretacion to learn about all the fauna in the reserve. In this Centre you can see skeletons of whales, sea lions, and penguins. To finish your tour go off road in the desert towards beautiful Lagunillas Beach, where you can enjoy lunch with a view (not included). At Lagunillas, those who want to go for a swim are welcome to! Return to Paracas.

Live an unforgettable experience of a whole day starting from Lima towards Ica, discover the Huacachina desert and the Ballestas Islands. 09:00 AM – Paracas Beach: Start the excursion to the Ballestas Islands. We will enter the El Chaco tourist pier and board the boats for a 1-hour journey to the islands. Along the way, you will see the Paracas Candelabra, sea lions, penguins, and a wide variety of guano birds. 01:00 PM – Pisco Tasting: Arrive at a renowned wine and pisco winery, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch with traditional Ica dishes (optional). Afterward, head to the tasting room to sample over 5 varieties of wines, piscos, and local liquor creams. 02:30 PM – Huacachina Oasis: Arrive at the famous Huacachina Oasis, also known as the "Oasis of America." Here, we will engage in thrilling dune buggy rides as we race up and down the towering Ica sand dunes, giving you the sensation of a roller coaster ride in the sand. At the top, we’ll go sandboarding down the dunes, a must-try desert activity. Afterward, you’ll have some free time to explore the oasis at your leisure. 05:00 PM – Return to Lima: At around 06:00 PM, we will make a brief stop to use the restrooms and grab some snacks. We will then continue our journey back to Lima, with an estimated arrival time of 09:30 PM - 10:00 PM (approx.).