Paracas, Ballestas and Ica
The Paracas and Ica tour leaves Lima very early heading south, along the Pan-American Highway to the resort town of Paracas, right on the Pacific coast. There you board a boat to cruise around the Ballestas Islands, a marine wildlife sanctuary known as the Peruvian Galápagos, where you see colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins and thousands of guano birds. During the boat ride the enigmatic Candelabra geoglyph appears facing the sea, a giant figure carved into the sandy hillside whose origin remains a mystery.
After the boat trip, the journey continues to Ica and the famous Huacachina oasis, a natural lagoon surrounded by huge sand dunes in the middle of the desert. Here comes the most adrenaline-filled part of the day: a thrilling dune buggy ride up and down the dunes and then sandboarding to slide down the sand on a board. With time for photos, you'll enjoy the sunset over the desert, when the golden light colors the dunes and makes Huacachina one of the most photogenic spots in Peru.
The day ends with a visit and tasting at a traditional pisco winery, home of Peru's flagship spirit, where you see the production process up close, from the grape to the glass, and try different varieties. With comfortable transport, a bilingual guide and the main entrance fees included, the Paracas and Ica tour brings together sea, wildlife, desert, adventure and winemaking tradition on a single getaway from Lima. At nightfall you head back to the capital with unforgettable memories of Peru's southern coast.
