Things to do in
Huacachina

Our most recommended things to do in Huacachina

From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Tour by Luxury Bus

1. From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Tour by Luxury Bus

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.

From Ica or Huacachina: Dune Buggy at Sunset & Sandboarding

2. From Ica or Huacachina: Dune Buggy at Sunset & Sandboarding

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.

From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Guided Desert Oasis Trip

3. From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Guided Desert Oasis Trip

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

From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Full Day Guided Tour

4. From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Full Day Guided Tour

Start with pickup from your hotel in Lima at around 05:00 AM, it all depends on your location in Lima, where you will board the coach for a 03:30-hour journey to Paracas town. Before getting to Paracas, we will stop to have breakfast. On your arrival in Paracas, make your way to the dock where you will board a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands. During your journey to Ballestas, see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. In the Ballestas Islands, you will see a stunningly rugged world filled with birds and sea lions. You will navigate around the islands at a distance allowed, and depending on the sea conditions, visit nearby caves. Return to the port at 11 am, and spend some time in Paracas where you will have free time for restrooms or a short time to relax. Then, continue to the next destination, Huacachina Oasis. Have a small break to prepare for your desert tour; then board a buggy for a 2-hour adventure across the sanddunes that surround the water source. Just before the end, of the tour, we will stop at the highest point to appreciate the sunset. Return to Huacachina and have time for refreshment. Continue towards to traditional vineyard and taste the best of the local wine and Pisco or lunch at the vineyard restaurant, then Drive back to Lima arriving and dropping off at your hotel. At around 21:30 or 22:00 On this one-day tour, you will have an assistant guide on the trip who will help you with your concerns on your trip.

From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Full Day Tour

5. From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Full Day Tour

Discover the incredible landscapes outside Lima, on your way to Paracas and Huacachina. Enjoy pickup from your accommodation and 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 with an early pickup from your accommodation. Relax during direct transportation to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, travel on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 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. Travel 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 on the comfortable seat. Be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima, around 11:45 pm.

From Lima: Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina Day Tour

6. From Lima: Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina Day Tour

Discover the Huacachina Desert and the Ballestas Islands off the coast of Paracas on this day tour leaving from Lima. Visit the Ballestas Islands and admire the local wildlife like sea lions and seals, and try out sandboarding in an oasis in the Huacachina desert. Early morning start. Pick-up of passengers in Downtown Lima, San Isidro, Westin Hotel and Miraflores. It is only picked up at hotels around Keneddy Park, please consult the hotel list. Then transfer from Lima to Paracas. Visit to the Ballestas Islands: Boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands where We will be able to observe marine fauna, including sea lions, penguins and birds. You will also be able to see the Candelabra, lines very similar to those of Nazca. After the visit to the Ballestas Islands, free time in Paracas to explore the area on foot or relax, in this place there will be a tasting of typical sweets. Then we will go to a vineyard in Ica where you will be able to taste wines, piscos and derivatives, learn how to make a Pisco Sour and we will toast with our flagship drink. Lunch break at a local restaurant in Ica. Transfer to Huacachina, an oasis in the desert. Possibility of doing activities such as tube rides and sandboarding. Possibility of stopping at a store in Chincha to buy souvenirs or local products (depending on time available). Return to Lima: Estimated arrival between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, depending on traffic.

From Lima: 2-Day Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina

7. From Lima: 2-Day Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina

Experience a 2-day tour outside of Lima. After your hotel pickup in Lima, depart to Paracas, a beautiful town by the sea. Travel on a spacious bus and relax for the 4-hour ride. Once in Paracas, take a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos Islands. See sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and in their natural habitat. Enjoy free time from 12:00PM to 1:30PM for lunch. Ask your guide for recommendations! At 1:30 PM, move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. There, have more free time to explore around the oasis. Next, prepare for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggying 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. The following day, go from Huacachina to Nazca in a shuttle. Arrive in Nazca around 11:00AM and go straight to the airport. Fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines, which have left thousands of people baffled for years. Have 2 hours of free time in Nazca, enough time to visit the Cantalloc Aqueducts. At 3:00PM, travel back to Huacachina and later that night, travel back to Lima. Sit back and relax on the comfortable seats. At the end of your journey, get dropped off directly to your hotel or hostel.

From Ica or Huacachina: Wine and Pisco Vineyards Tour

8. From Ica or Huacachina: Wine and Pisco Vineyards Tour

Discover the wine region surrounding Ica, that is known as the most important wine region in Peru for red wine and the popular local drink pisco. Visit the oldest vineyard in Peru and a traditional pisco winery and learn about how the wine and Pisco are made and, of course, taste Pisco and wine at both wineries. Start with pickup from Ica or Huacachina. Head to your first stop, the Tacama vineyard, considered one of the oldest ones in South America and first in Peru, established in the 16th century. Visit the old hacienda and tower where you will get the best view and see acres of grapes. Then you will visit the old and new factory and see how Tacama produces wines and Piscos using the industrial process. Afterward, you will taste their Piscos and wines. Head to the second vineyard called El Catador, known for its pisco. Pisco is a strong liquor known as the national drink of Peru. Learn about the traditional process to make Pisco and the clay jars known as “botijas” where the juice of crushed grapes is fermenting during March month, (harvest time). Visit the distillery and learn about the last seps to produce the famous drink. After, time to taste the Pisco and wine made here. You will have the opportunity to have lunch (not included) at one of the wineries that prepare typical dishes from this region.

Lima: 2-Day Tour to Paracas, Pisco Vineyards, and Huacachina

9. Lima: 2-Day Tour to Paracas, Pisco Vineyards, and Huacachina

Day 1: Lima - Ballestas Islands - Huacachina Start with early pickup from your hotel in Lima or meeting point. Travel to Paracas, beautiful small town by the sea, on a 4-hour journey. Upon arrival in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands. These islands are said to be a smaller version of the Galápagos. See sea lions, penguins, birds, and even dolphins up close in their natural habitats. After the boat tour, head to Huacachina, the only desert oasis in South America. Spend 2 hours getting your thrills with dune buggying and sandboarding on some of the highest sand dunes. Then, transfer to your accommodation in Huacachina. Use your free time to grab some food or maybe a beer. Relax after an adrenaline-filled evening and rest up for the next day. Day 2: Huacachina - Lima Leave Huacachina and head off to a 2-hour pisco vineyard tour. See how pisco, Peru's national drink, is made from the grape to the bottle and try lots of free samples. Spend the whole day enjoying Huacachina. Catch some sun by the pool or grab some lunch around the oasis for the perfect end to this trip. Travel by air-conditioned bus back to Lima, and get dropped off either at your hotel or the original meeting point.

Lima: Paracas & Huacachina Oasis Day Trip with Wine & Dunes

10. Lima: Paracas & Huacachina Oasis Day Trip with Wine & Dunes

Begin your day trip with convenient and comfortable pickup from your hotel in Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro, or nearby areas in Lima. Depart bright and early with your English-speaking guide, and head to where your adventure begins in Paracas. There, you board a speed boat for marine wildlife watching, with the chance to see Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and the mysterious Chandelier Lines. Following the island tour, a brief stop at Paracas Boulevard allows for exploration before the journey continues to the Ica winery valley. Here, visit a pisco distillery, enjoy free tastings of pisco and wine, and have the option for lunch on your own. Next, the tour takes you to the Huacachina Oasis for a leisurely promenade around the oasis. This is followed by an exhilarating dune buggy ride across the vast dunes, offering opportunities for sightseeing, sandboarding, or sand sliding. Finally, the tour concludes with a drive back to Lima City, where you'll be dropped off at the original meeting point or your accommodation.

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What people are saying about Huacachina

Overall rating

4.7
(770 reviews)

After a lotttt of research to find the best tour I settled on this one and I'm so glad I did. It was with Peru Hop which has super comfortable buses and organized tours. Our guide was Sol and she was amazing, we were very taken care of. We had lots of free time in Paracas for lunch and in Huacachina to walk around. The boat ride in Paracas was so cool, we saw sea lions, penguins and dolphins! And the dune buggie ride in Huacachina was crazy! Very adventurous. It felt like being on a roller coaster. The sand boarding was super fun too, we went down 4 different dunes and the driver picked us up at the bottom. The sunset was incredible. There is plenty of time to get lunch and dinner but we brought our own snacks too and I'm so glad we did because it's a really long day! Pack light because you have to bring your bags with you to the boat trip. (you can leave large luggage at the meeting point) Totally worth the money- 10/10 experience, an amazing way to end our month in Peru!

Transport: they picked us up at the hotel with a VAN at the agreed time and left us where the bus was, which was very comfortable Guide: Debora did an excellent job, gave us all the support and information we needed. RATING 10 Tours: really worth it, we went with a 5 year old child who loved the boat trip where we saw penguins and sea lions as well as the buggy ride through the dunes (SPECTACULAR) and the sandboarding on giant dunes. Lunch at the recommended restaurant was not good and was expensive for Lima standards (being in a small city). To also return super calm and resting, we arrived at the hotel around 11pm. 100% recommended tour and 100% great service from everyone, including the buggy drivers

This tour was really good, right now ranking at the top of the 4 tours we've done so far. The tour guiede was excellent, very attentive and organized. Deborah did really good. the experience created a core memory for us. The transportation was exellent , Alejandro made sure we were on time and reach each destination safe and sound. Overall a great experience that I definitely recomend. (it is a hole day trip thought, so jave that in mind).

We were a group of 7 doing the tour. The boat tour was really interesting, we saw some sea lions and penguins whereas the Huacachina oasis was super cool! The sand dunes, the buggy ride and sand boarding made our day! Our guide was Ricardo, he was super helpful, friendly, caring and always in a good mood. Super recommended!

everything was amazing, Marcos was a great driver and guide