2025 Ballestas & Huacachina Tour: A Full Day Desert Adventure

So, you are probably thinking about that jam-packed day trip from Lima that shows you some of Peru’s most incredible and honestly, completely different sights. This is basically the one: a pretty wild combo of wildlife and desert thrills, literally all in one day. We decided to see what the 2025 ‘Full Day Ballestas Islands + Huacachina’ tour was actually like, you know, beyond the slick pictures. To be honest, it is a very, very long day, but at the end of the day, it could be just what your Peru trip needs.

A Very Early Morning Start for Peru’s “Poor Man’s Galapagos”

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way first: your day will, you know, start incredibly early. We are talking about a pickup time that’s honestly still deep in the night, maybe around 4 AM. So, that part is definitely a bit rough, but apparently, it’s the only way to make the timing work. You’ll spend a few hours on a bus heading south along the coast from Lima, which, by the way, is a pretty good time to get some more sleep. Your first big stop is, in fact, the town of Paracas, which is more or less the jumping-off point for the Ballestas Islands. The air here just smells different, you know, a little salty and very fresh, which is a big change from the city.

You then hop on a speedboat with a group of other people, and seriously, this is where the action begins. The boat ride itself is actually quite bouncy and a ton of fun, so hold on to your hat. The islands are often called the “Poor Man’s Galapagos,” which is sort of a nickname that sticks because you get to see so much wildlife without the huge price tag. As you get closer, you’ll hear them first: the loud barking of thousands of sea lions. To be honest, it is an absolutely incredible sound that you just won’t forget.

So, What Will You Actually See on the Water?

Frankly, the amount of wildlife is pretty stunning. The main stars are absolutely the huge colonies of sea lions, you know, covering pretty much every available rock. We saw big males and tons of little pups just playing around, and getting that close from a boat is really something special. Anyway, besides the sea lions, you’ll almost certainly spot the adorable Humboldt penguins. They’re kind of small and tend to just stand around in groups, looking pretty dapper in their natural tuxedos. As a matter of fact, a big part of the ecosystem here is the birds.

You are looking at Guanay cormorants, Peruvian boobies, and Inca terns, and seriously, there are just thousands of them. In other words, you will want to wear a hat for the sun, and well, for potential bird droppings—just being honest!

On the way out to the islands, the boat captain usually stops for a moment to show you something really strange on the side of a sandy hill. It’s called the Candelabra geoglyph, a massive figure carved into the sand that, to be honest, nobody is completely sure about. Like the Nazca Lines nearby, its origin is a bit of a mystery, which, in a way, just adds to the whole experience of the day. The guides have their theories, of course, which are sort of interesting to listen to as you float by.

Next Up: Sand, Speed, and the Oasis of Huacachina

Alright, so after the boat tour, you typically hop back on your bus and head inland towards the Ica desert. The change in the landscape is pretty dramatic, I mean, you go from the cool ocean breeze to some really dry, hot desert heat in a short time. Your destination is the famous Huacachina, the oasis of America. Honestly, seeing it for the first time is a bit surreal. It’s a small, green lagoon surrounded by palm trees, which is then surrounded by some of the most massive sand dunes you’ve ever seen. It almost looks like a painting, you know, just plopped right there in the middle of nowhere.

This is where the second part of your adventure really kicks into high gear, literally. You get strapped into a dune buggy, which is basically a souped-up, open-air vehicle designed to fly over sand. And by fly, I mean it; the drivers are very skilled and they definitely do not hold back. You’ll race up the sides of these gigantic dunes at high speeds and then dip down steep slopes, so your stomach will definitely do a few flips. It’s like a roller coaster on sand, and as a matter of fact, the shrieks and laughs from everyone in the buggy are just part of the fun.

Sandboarding Down The Giant Dunes – Is It as Scary as It Looks?

The dune buggy will actually stop at the top of a few different dunes for the next activity: sandboarding. Now, you know, don’t picture yourself snowboarding like a pro on a mountain. Instead, you’ll be lying on your belly on a simple wooden board and sliding headfirst down the sandy slopes. The guide usually waxes the bottom of the board for you so it goes a little faster. To be honest, the first look down can be a bit intimidating. Some of these dunes are really steep and very, very high.

But frankly, it’s much more fun than it is scary. You can more or less control your speed with your feet, or you can just lift them up and go for it completely. The rush of wind and the sand spraying around you is an incredibly fun sensation, and you pretty much always end up laughing at the bottom, covered in fine sand. You get to try this on a few different hills, some for beginners and some that are a bit more extreme. Of course, if you’re not feeling it, you can just hang out at the top and take some really awesome pictures. The day in the desert typically ends with a spectacular view of the sun setting over the endless dunes, which is just a perfect, peaceful moment after all the high-speed action.

What to Know Before You Go: Food, What to Pack, and Some Real Talk

So, a day this long obviously involves food. Lunch is often part of the deal, usually at a restaurant near Huacachina. The food tends to be pretty decent, typical Peruvian fare, which is a really good chance to just sit down and relax for a bit before the buggy ride. Some tours also stop at a Pisco vineyard, you know, where you can see how Peru’s national drink is made and, of course, have a few samples. That part is pretty interesting, but at the end of the day, just check your specific tour’s itinerary.

Let’s talk about what to pack, which is actually very important for this trip. You will definitely need sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses because the Peruvian sun is no joke, both on the water and in the desert. We would recommend bringing a light jacket or windbreaker for the boat trip since it can get pretty chilly and windy. For the desert, just wear light clothes and maybe bring a change of shirt because you will, in fact, get sand everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. And obviously, a reusable water bottle is a very smart idea to stay hydrated throughout this long day.

Finally, a little bit of real talk: this tour is amazing, but it is also very tiring. You spend a lot of time on a bus, maybe six to seven hours round trip from Lima. It is an extremely efficient way to see these two major highlights, but it feels pretty rushed at times. You basically have just enough time at each spot to do the main activity before you have to move on. If you have more time in your schedule, you might want to consider staying overnight in Paracas or Huacachina to get a more relaxed feel for the places. But, if you’re on a tight schedule, then this day trip is absolutely a fantastic option that packs a lot of punch.

• Be ready for a super early start: Seriously, the pickup is often around 4 AM from Lima.
• Wildlife is a sure thing: You’ll definitely see hundreds of sea lions and lots of birds on the Ballestas Islands tour.
• The Dune Buggy is intense: It’s a fast, bumpy, roller-coaster-like ride, but honestly, it is so much fun.
• Sandboarding is belly-down: It’s less about skill and more about just letting go and sliding down headfirst.
• It’s a very long day: Expect a lot of travel time on the bus, but you know, it is worth it to see these two unique places.
• Pack smart: Sunscreen, a hat, and a windbreaker are pretty much non-negotiable items for your bag.

Read our full review: Ballestas Islands Huacachina Ica tour Full Review and Details
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