Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Half-Day Tour
From €117 per person
See availability →A Ballestas Islands and Huacachina half-day tour with hotel pick-up: speedboat among sea lions, a pisco tasting and the sights of Ica, then a dune buggy at the oasis.
The Ballestas Islands and Huacachina half-day tour packs a boat ride, a winery and a desert oasis into about five hours, with pick-up from your hotel in Paracas and a drop-off at the end. It suits travellers who want sea and sand but cannot give a whole day to them.
The speedboat leaves from Paracas harbour and first stops on the peninsula to look at El Candelabro, a design on the side of a hill. It then reaches the Ballestas Islands, a world of birds and sea lions. Up to three islands are visited, depending on the sea conditions, and the boat goes into some of the caves.
After a 40-minute break at the port, a vehicle drives about an hour towards Ica. Along the way:
- a vineyard visit to taste wine and pisco, with an explanation of how it is made
- the Cathedral of Senor de Luren and the main square
- the Regional Museum of Ica, a building holding remains of ancient local cultures
The last stop is Huacachina, a lagoon fringed by palm trees and huge dunes, with views over the Ica valley and the desert. You can climb the dunes and take a dune buggy ride before heading back. A guide speaks English and Spanish, and a bottle of water is included. Entrances and meals are paid separately. Children under five, pregnant women and people with mobility problems are advised not to join.