Peru's southern coast is the opposite of the Andes: desert, sea and no altitude at all. Within a few kilometres you have islands full of sea lions, an oasis among sand dunes, pisco wineries and the most famous geoglyphs in the world. These are the tours we run in Ica and Nazca, with prices, schedules and what is paid separately.
The tours at a glance
- Ballestas Islands + Paracas National Reserve — full day, from S/ 69.
- Ica city tour with winery and Huacachina — 4 hours, from S/ 40.
- Ica city tour + dune buggy — afternoon, from S/ 65.
- Canyon of the Lost (Cañón de los Perdidos) — full day, from S/ 65.
- Nazca Lines flight — 35 minutes in the air, from S/ 308.
- Nazca: archaeology and adventure by buggy — 4 hours, from S/ 89.
Ballestas Islands and Paracas
Pick-up in Ica is at 6:40 a.m. and by 8:00 you are on the boat. On the way to the islands you pass the Candelabro, a huge figure traced on a hillside. You do not land on the Ballestas: the boat circles the islands among caves and rock formations, with sea lions and thousands of birds a few metres away.
Afterwards you enter the Paracas National Reserve, where the desert ends in cliffs above the sea. You are back around 3:30 p.m. It includes transport, motorboat with life jacket and guide; the Paracas entrance fees (S/ 22) and lunch are paid separately. See the Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve tour.
Ica: pisco, Cachiche and Huacachina
The city tour takes about 4 hours, with a morning or an afternoon departure. It starts at a traditional winery, where they explain how pisco and wine are made and you taste both. It continues through the main square and the village of Cachiche — with its tales of witches and the seven-headed palm tree — and ends at the Huacachina lagoon, the oasis surrounded by dunes.
The Huacachina entrance (S/ 3.60) is paid separately. Details on the Ica city tour.
Dune buggy at sunset
The city tour + buggy version leaves at 1:30 p.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m. It follows the same route and adds a dune buggy ride over the Huacachina dunes, at the hour when the desert has its best light. Bring sunglasses and something to cover yourself from the sand.
Canyon of the Lost
This is Ica's least-known route. You leave between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. heading south, with a first stop in Ocucaje. The road crosses the Pampa de las Piedras, where erosion has left shapes that resemble animals, before reaching the canyon, a gash cut into the open desert. You return around 4:00 p.m.
It includes transport and guide; food is on your own, so bring water and something to eat. Itinerary on the Canyon of the Lost tour.
Nazca Lines: the flight
The figures can only be properly seen from the air. The flight lasts 35 minutes and takes off from María Reiche airport between 9:20 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., always subject to weather. From the plane you see the Hummingbird, the Condor, the Monkey, the Spider, the Astronaut, the Tree, the Hands and the Whale, among others, as well as the Cantalloc aqueducts.
- Included: the flight, a flight certificate, luggage storage and commentary in Spanish and English.
- Paid separately: airport tax (S/ 30) and the Nazca Lines tourist ticket (S/ 47).
- Bring your passport: it is required to board.
The plane banks to both sides so everyone can see the figures, and you do feel it: eat light before flying. Check the Nazca Lines flight.
Nazca on the ground: aqueducts, Cahuachi and sandboarding
If you are staying the afternoon in Nazca, the archaeology and adventure tour leaves at 2:00 p.m. by buggy across the desert. It visits a pre-Inca cemetery with original tombs, the Ocongalla aqueduct — built around 500 AD and still carrying water — and the Cahuachi ceremonial centre, with its adobe pyramids. It ends with sandboarding on the dunes. Entrance fees are included.
How to plan 2 or 3 days
- Day 1: Ballestas Islands and Paracas in the morning; a free afternoon in Huacachina when you return.
- Day 2: Ica city tour with dune buggy in the afternoon, or the Canyon of the Lost if you prefer landscapes.
- Day 3: travel to Nazca, flight in the morning and archaeology by buggy in the afternoon.
What to pack
- Sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses: the desert sun is unforgiving.
- A light jacket for the boat, where it gets windy.
- Water and snacks.
- Cash for the entrance fees and taxes paid separately.
- Valid ID or passport.
Departures are daily and pick-ups are from hotels near the centre of Ica or Nazca. Write to us through the contact form to confirm availability.
