Ballestas Islands and Huacachina One-Way Tour from Paracas

Sea lions in the morning, sand dunes at sunset: this Ballestas Islands and Huacachina one-way tour carries you from the Pacific coast to the desert in one long day. It starts in Paracas and ends in Huacachina, so it suits travellers heading on towards Nazca or Arequipa who do not want to double back.

First comes a boat trip of about two hours around the Ballestas Islands, looking for sea lions, Humboldt penguins and many seabirds, with the Candelabro geoglyph visible on the cliffs. Then a guided circuit of the Paracas National Reserve takes about three and a half hours and visits Playa Roja, the Isthmus viewpoint, the La Catedral rock and Yumaque Beach.

After a short break, a shuttle drives you to Huacachina, where an hour of dune buggy and sandboarding closes the day.

• Boat tour, reserve tour and buggy session with sandboarding
• Shuttle from Paracas to Huacachina
• Luggage kept at the Paracas office and handed back after the buggy ride

Admission tickets and meals are not included. Communication goes through WhatsApp, so give an active number when you book. A return to Paracas can be arranged for an extra charge if you contact the operator beforehand.