Ica Paracas 2-Day Tour 2026: Price, Itinerary & What’s Included

The Ica Paracas 2-day tour is the most complete way to discover Peru’s southern coast without feeling rushed: the Ballestas Islands with their Humboldt penguin and sea lion colonies, the Huacachina Oasis surrounded by dunes up to 100 meters high, the Paracas National Reserve and the famous pisco route at an artisan winery in Ica. The Ica 2-day package by Turismo Liberty combines all of this with 1 night overlooking the sea in Paracas, transfers included from Lima and a bilingual guide at every stop. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll respond in under 5 minutes.

In this guide you’ll find the exact day-by-day itinerary, what is and isn’t included in the package, the real difference between the Full Day Ica Paracas and the 2-day package, the best time to visit depending on what you want to see, and everything no one tells you before you leave — from what to pack for sandboarding to how much cash you need at the Ica wineries.

🎒 What’s included in the Ica Paracas 2-day 1-night tour with Turismo Liberty

Before diving into destinations and wildlife, the most important question: exactly what does the package include and how much does it cost? Turismo Liberty offers two options for exploring Ica and Paracas — the Full Day (1 day, no overnight) and the 2-day 1-night package, which is the most complete and covers all the main highlights without any rush.

✅ What’s included in the 2-day package

• Tourist transport Lima–Paracas–Ica–Lima (comfortable bus with A/C)
• 1 night accommodation in Paracas at selected hotel
• Guided boat trip to the Ballestas Islands
• Paracas pier entrance · maritime tax included
• Visit to Viviana artisan chocolate shop (local sweets)
• Huacachina Oasis visit
• Pisco & wine route at artisan winery · tasting included
• Bilingual tour guide (Spanish/English)
• Passenger accident insurance (SOAT)
• Basic first aid kit

❌ What’s NOT included

• Lunches and dinners (breakfast depends on hotel chosen)
• Sandboarding/dune buggies at Huacachina (~$10 extra)
• Yaku Park visit ($14 extra)
• Tips for guide and driver
• Paracas National Reserve entrance fee (S/. 16 per person — ask if already included)
• Personal travel insurance (recommended)

📅 Day-by-day itinerary of the Ica Paracas 2-day tour

This is the route operated by Turismo Liberty for the 2-day package, with real timings and exact stops. The departure point is Larcomar Shopping Center in Miraflores, Lima, in front of the Marriott Hotel.

🌊 Day 1 — Lima › Paracas · Ballestas Islands · Night by the sea

1. Departure from Lima (Larcomar) — The tourist transport picks up passengers at the meeting point. The drive to Paracas takes approximately 4 hours along the Pan-American Highway South with a brief stop in Chilca.
2. Arrival at El Chaco Beach (Paracas pier) — Hotel check-in. Free time to rest or explore the Paracas waterfront before the maritime tour.
3. Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands — Approximately 2-hour round trip by speedboat around the islands. Spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and, if you’re lucky, dolphins. On the way out, the boat passes the Candelabro — a giant prehistoric geoglyph carved into the clifftop.
4. Free time in Paracas — Afternoon free to explore El Chaco craft market, have dinner at a waterfront restaurant or simply relax with an ocean view.
5. Night in Paracas — Accommodation at selected hotel overlooking the bay.

🏜️ Day 2 — Ica · Artisan winery · Huacachina · Return to Lima

1. Breakfast at the hotel — A relaxed start to recharge before a full day in the desert.
2. Transfer Paracas → Ica — Approximately 1.5 hours by tourist bus along the coast. The landscape changes dramatically: from the ocean bay to towering sand dunes.
3. Pisco route — artisan winery — Visit to an artisan winery founded in 1856, with an explanation of the pisco-making process using ancestral techniques. Tasting of pisco, wines, pisco cream liqueurs and macerados. The most culturally rich stop on the tour.
4. Huacachina Oasis visit — A natural freshwater lagoon surrounded by palm trees and dunes up to 100 meters high. Free time to walk around the oasis, take photos or arrange sandboarding and dune buggy rides.
5. Viviana Chocolate Shop — Tasting of artisan sweets from Ica made using traditional methods: tejas, suspiros and regional alfajores.
6. Return to Lima — Departure from Ica. Arrival in Lima approximately between 9 PM and 10 PM depending on traffic.

🐧 Ballestas Islands: the “Peruvian Galapagos”

The Ballestas Islands are the most anticipated stop on the tour for most travelers arriving in Paracas — and for good reason. Declared part of the Paracas National Reserve by SERNANP, these three rocky islands are home to one of the densest marine wildlife colonies in all of South America. The cold Humboldt Current, flowing up from Antarctica, makes this biodiversity possible in the middle of a coastal desert.

What you’ll see on the boat tour: colonies of South American sea lions (up to 8,000 individuals on a single island), Humboldt penguins resting on the rocks, blue-footed boobies, Peruvian pelicans, cormorants and frigatebirds. From July to November you may also spot pink flamingos flying toward the Paracas Reserve from the inland salt flats. Before reaching the islands, the boat passes the Candelabro, a prehistoric geoglyph 180 meters tall carved into the clifftop, whose origins remain a mystery.

🏜️ Huacachina Oasis: sandboarding and giant dunes

The Huacachina Oasis is a natural freshwater lagoon surrounded by palm trees in the middle of the Ica desert — and dunes reaching 100 meters in height. It is the most photographed destination in the Peruvian coastal desert and the setting for sandboarding, one of the most adrenaline-fuelled activities in the country. The lagoon has been declared a Natural Heritage site of Peru.

Although the oasis covers only a few blocks in circumference, the experience isn’t the lagoon itself — it’s the feeling of being surrounded by a sea of giant sand as the sun turns everything orange at sunset. Sandboarding by dune buggy involves riding to the top of the dunes in an all-terrain vehicle and sliding down 40° slopes on a special board. Two styles available: standing (for the more experienced) and lying down or seated (for beginners and anyone who just wants pure speed).

Worth noting: sandboarding is not included in the base price of the Ica Paracas 2-day tour with Turismo Liberty — it’s booked directly in Huacachina for approximately $10 extra. It’s completely worth it.

⚖️ Full Day vs 2 days 1 night: which should you choose?

This is the most common question from travelers planning a trip to Ica and Paracas. The answer depends mainly on your budget and how much time you have available in Lima.

Criteria	Full Day Ica Paracas	2-Day 1-Night Package ⭐
Duration	1 day (depart and return)	2 days / 1 night
Ballestas Islands	✅ Included	✅ Included
Paracas Nat. Reserve	⚠️ Depends on package	✅ Included
Night in Paracas	❌ Not included	✅ 1 night sea view
Huacachina Oasis	✅ Included	✅ Included
Sandboarding	✅ Available (extra)	✅ Available (extra)
Pisco route	✅ Included	✅ Included (artisan winery)
Pace	Intense — everything in 1 long day	Relaxed — comfortable rhythm
Best for	Limited time in Lima	Complete experience, no rush

If you have 2 days available, the 2-day 1-night package is clearly superior: the night in Paracas facing the sea means you start day 2 in Ica fully refreshed, and you’ll have real time to enjoy each stop without the pressure of a 14-hour marathon day. If your time in Lima is short and you only have one free day, the Full Day is still an excellent option.

🌤️ Best time to do the Ica Paracas tour

Ica and Paracas have a major advantage over other destinations in southern Peru: the climate is warm and dry almost year-round, with temperatures between 18 and 30°C. There is no rainy season on the coast. However, there are important differences month by month in terms of wildlife, skies and water temperature.

Period	Weather	Wildlife highlights	Recommendation
Dec – Mar	Hot · 28–30°C · clear skies	Active sea lions · boobies	⭐ Ideal for beaches & sunshine
Apr – Jun	Pleasant · 22–26°C	Humboldt penguins active	✅ Great time to visit
Jul – Nov	Coastal mist · 18–22°C · overcast	Pink flamingos ⭐ · penguins	✅ Best for wildlife · bring a jacket

🎒 What to bring on the Ica Paracas tour

The coastal desert has very particular conditions: intense sun in the morning, cold sea breeze on the bay and fine sand that gets into everything during sandboarding. This list covers all situations across the 2-day route.

• SPF 50+ sunscreen — the sun in Paracas and on the Ica dunes is very strong
• UV-protection sunglasses — essential for the boat tour and sandboarding
• Jacket or windbreaker — the wind at the Ballestas Islands can be cold even in summer
• Clothes you don’t mind getting sandy — sandboarding leaves sand everywhere
• Change of clothes in your day bag
• Closed-toe shoes or trainers — for sandboarding and walking around Huacachina
• Cap or hat — essential at Huacachina at midday
• Cash in Peruvian soles — for sandboarding (~$10), lunches, tips and winery purchases
• Reusable water bottle — staying hydrated is key in the desert
• Camera or phone with a spare battery — the Huacachina sunset is one of Peru’s best views
• Motion sickness medication (optional) — if you’re sensitive to movement on boats

❓ Frequently asked questions about the Ica Paracas tour

The Ica Paracas 2-day 1-night tour is the most complete way to discover Peru’s southern coast: unique marine wildlife, the most photogenic sand dune landscape in South America and the best pisco route in the country — all in a package departing from Lima with nothing for you to organise. Turismo Liberty handles the transfers, accommodation and guide so you can focus entirely on enjoying the experience. Message us on WhatsApp now and we’ll give you availability and pricing in under 5 minutes.