Ballestas Islands & Huacachina
Ballestas Islands, Pisco Vineyard & Huacachina Desert Adventure – Full-Day Tour from Paracas
Embark on a full-day journey from Paracas that combines wildlife, culture, and adrenaline in one unforgettable experience. Start your day with a boat tour to the stunning Ballestas Islands, often called “the mini Galapagos,” where you’ll witness sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and countless seabirds in their natural habitat. Then, head inland to a traditional vineyard in Ica to learn about the artisanal production of Peruvian wine and pisco — and enjoy a guided tasting of these iconic drinks. Finally, dive into the dunes of Huacachina, South America’s only natural desert oasis, where you’ll hop on a high-speed dune buggy and try thrilling sandboarding. This tour is perfect for travellers seeking nature, local flavour, and heart-racing adventure all in one day.
Top Highlights
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands to see sea lions, penguins, and marine birds
- Visit a traditional pisco and wine bodega with guided tasting experience
- Explore the Ica desert and the famous Huacachina Oasis by dune buggy
- Try sandboarding on the giant dunes of the Peruvian desert
- Full-day tour from Paracas combining wildlife, culture, and desert adventure
Tour Level: Easy to Moderate – suitable for all ages.
Departure: Daily departures from Paracas at 9:00 AM
Duration: Full-day tour (approx. 10 hours).
Tour Type: Group Tour – wildlife, cultural and adventure combined
Type Service: Shared service with small group.
Your adventure begins at our Paracas office at 09:00 – please arrive 20 minutes early for a full briefing of the day’s activities. At 09:00, board the boat for a guided two-hour tour of the Ballestas Islands, often called the “Little Galapagos,” where you’ll spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, and a variety of seabirds, as well as the famous Candelabra geoglyph etched into the cliffs. After returning to the dock, enjoy a 40-minute break to use the restroom or grab a light snack. At 12:00, depart for Ica and visit a traditional artisanal winery to learn about the pisco and wine-making process with a guided tour and tasting. Then, stop for lunch (not included) before heading to the stunning Huacachina Oasis. After a short 10-minute walk over the dunes to our departure point, get ready for a thrilling dune buggy and sandboarding tour starting at 17:00, ending with a breathtaking desert sunset. Return to base and travel back to Paracas, arriving around 19:00.
Included:
- Boat tour to the Ballestas Islands with official maritime guide.
- Life jackets and all safety equipment for the boat trip.
- Air-conditioned transport from Paracas to Ica and back.
- Guided visit to an artisanal pisco and wine bodega with tastings.
- Dune buggy tour and sandboarding in Huacachina.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) local guide throughout the day.
- Free time to explore and enjoy the Huacachina Oasis.
Not Included:
- Meals and personal snacks.
- Entrance fees to the Ballestas and Huacachina (20 soles or 6 USD per person)
- Tips for guides and drivers.
- Travel insurance.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Note:
The entrance fee to Ballestas and Huacachina is not included in the tour price and must be paid directly in cash or card at the control point, in Peruvian soles.
✅ Allowed:
- Taking photos and videos throughout the tour.
- Bringing small backpacks with personal items.
- Wearing hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- Bringing water bottles and light snacks.
- Using GoPro or cameras during buggy and boat rides (securely fastened).
❌ Not Allowed:
- Littering or removing natural elements (e.g. shells, rocks).
- Drones (without prior permit).
- Loud music or disruptive behaviour.
- Smoking in protected areas.
- Feeding or disturbing wildlife.
- Swimming or touching wildlife at the Ballestas Islands.
- Consuming alcohol or smoking during any part of the tour.
- Wearing flip-flops or sandals during the dune buggy ride.
- Joining the tour under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
🎒 What to Bring:
- Cash in soles for entrance fee.
- Sunglasses, hat, and high-SPF sunscreen.
- Comfortable clothes for warm and windy conditions.
- Refillable water bottle.
- Camera or smartphone.
- Light snacks (optional).
- Windbreaker or light jacket (optional – coastal breeze).
The meeting point for this tour is our office in Paracas. Please make sure to arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Our staff will provide you with all necessary travel instructions and guidance before the tour begins.
Please note that the Ballestas Islands tour is weather-dependent. In case of rough sea conditions, we offer three flexible options:
Join an alternative land-based tour
Reschedule the Ballestas tour for another day
Continue with the rest of the itinerary and receive a partial refund for the missed boat tour
This tour is designed as a round trip from Paracas, returning the same evening. However, if you wish to take the tour one-way only and remain in Ica, Huacachina, or be dropped off at a bus station or hotel, please inform us in advance. This allows us to arrange suitable transport so you can travel comfortably and efficiently. Advance notice ensures we can offer you the best experience and avoid last-minute inconveniences.
If you’re travelling with luggage, you may safely store your bags in our office in Huacachina. After the buggy tour, you can take it and continue with your journey.
To ensure smooth coordination and real-time updates during the tour, it is strongly recommended that you have WhatsApp installed and accessible throughout the day.
This tour is not suitable for cruise ship passengers arriving at San Martín Port, as the timings and logistics do not match cruise schedules. Please note that this is a land-based tour with fixed departure times and we are unable to offer custom pickups from the port.
For the best experience, we recommend this tour for visitors who are staying overnight or arriving independently in Paracas.
Your tour is confirmed immediately upon booking, and you will receive an official confirmation by email or WhatsApp. We accept all major credit and debit cards and offer secure online payment options for your convenience.
You may cancel or reschedule your tour up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time at no additional cost. If you fail to show up on the day of the tour (No Show), no refunds or rescheduling will be offered.
We are committed to providing flexibility and transparency, ensuring your experience in Paracas is enjoyable, safe, and fair under all circumstances.
Why Book This Tour
Why Book With Us?
Ballestas & Huacachina
From $45 USD per person
Free Cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
To see more Tours in Paracas
To see more Tours in Peru
What Our Customers Say
Our clients consistently praise our tours for their professionalism, punctuality, and exceptional service. Many highlight the knowledgeable bilingual guides, the comfort and safety of our boats, and the unforgettable wildlife sightings. With thousands of positive reviews, travellers recommend us as the top choice for Paracas tours, ensuring a memorable and hassle-free experience every time.
Posted on Ainsley Gaudet31 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jose, was very accommodating to us when we decided we wanted to switch to a buggy rather than a scooter. Meant so much to us & we had a phenomenal time. The ladies that assisted us were helpful and very sweet. Great communication all in all, everyone we spoke to answered our questions to the fullest. Totally recommend booking with JD Adventures.Posted on K.C. Worrall3 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our experience with JD Adventure Travel was terrific! We were met exactly on time and in the right place and whisked away without a moments' loss. Our guide, Olenka, stayed with us the entire tour and was delightful! She was very knowledgeable and also knew how to get the best out of every situation. We could not have been more pleased with the whole tour, and highly recommend JD Adventure Travel to everyone!Posted on Marta Iwanicka15 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Super wycieczka, polecamPosted on 岡安尚子1 November 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. ベルーのカヤオ港からクスコとマチュピチュを観光する2泊3日のツアーでした。 23人という大人数でしたが、余裕を持ったスケジュールで、何の心配もありませんでした。各地を堪能し、楽しむことができました。ツアーガイドもマチュピチュの日本語ガイドも素晴らしかったです。Posted on Ignacio Cabrera26 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Muy buena experiencia! La recomiendo 100%.Posted on Pablo Galofré20 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excelente experiencia con la scotter por Paracas, y gracias a las recomendaciones de José, un gran día!Posted on Daniel George18 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Absolutely fantastic experience with Peru Sights! Their team was professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. The tour of Machu Picchu was seamless and truly awe-inspiring.Posted on tim breidbach16 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nice experience, super easy communication beforehand. We did the 3pm bufggy tour through the nature reserve and had to take the 5:40 Pm back to Lima. The crew made sure everything is on time and we had a nice closing of our paracas experiece. Would definetly recommend.Posted on Marly Rocha7 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nos gustaría agradecer a Jorge por su atención y cuidado. Fue brillante.Posted on 李賦庭6 October 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The agent was super helpful! They gave me traffic information from Ica and answered all my questions. They keep following my traffic condition and successfully took me on the flight, even though there was traffic jam. The flight was wonderful! Highly recommended.
Posted on Tom KVerified Boat and Buggy tour This was brilliant. We did a boat tour to the islands to see Seals, Penguins and birds. Then had an hour break before going on a buggy tour through the national park visiting multiple beaches and driving the buggy through the desert. Completely safe, follow a private guide and see many incredible sights. Worth doing!Posted on SidRamageVerified Great views of the amazing Nazca Lines! Plane left punctually, flies for about 40 minutes to Nazca, spends 40 minutes there then flies back. The views of these extraordinary features were wonderful with every chance to take photos as the pilot made sure that passengers on both sides of the plane got excellent views of everything. Compared to a long drive to visit on foot (which would not allow you to properly see the full scale of the images) this is a must.Posted on Denise DVerified Two sites, one good tour. The weather was beautiful to visit the Ballestas Islands for the boat ride. Fabio was a wonderful guide, very animated. He explained all of the important information for Tambo Colorado as we walked through the ruins. I would recommend Fabio and JD Travel for your next tour to Pisco port.Posted on James HVerified First Class Excursion We benefited from a well organized and well informed excursion. The Paracas National Reserve is stark and dramatic with awesome sights. The team led by Jose did everything possible to ensure that saw and understood the key elements and they were diligent in keeping us safe at all times.Posted on jkedzufVerified Boat and bus tour from Pisco. The combined boat and bus tour was great. Our tour guide was Olenka and she did a very nice job discussing and answering questions from the group of about 25. We saw numerous penguins and sea loins.Posted on Luigia CVerified Top experience We did an amazing experience in Ballestas islands and the natural reserva in Paracas!!We enjoyed and Olenka has been a lovely guide for our trip!!! Amazing time!! I will recommend for surePosted on Gudrun KVerified Great - gladly again Everything worked great (advance contact, pick-up and return information, briefing at the airport) and to top it all off there was a very pleasant flight!