Sandboarding & Nazca Lines Adventure

• International and/or domestic flights
• Airport transfers
• Entrance fee to Huacachina Reserve (approx. 2USD)
• Other activities
• Other meals/drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Anything not mentioned in the 'inclusions'

Explore Paracas

Today, you’ll take the regular bus towards the small city of Paracas (3 ½ hours approx.). Once in Paracas, you’ll head to your hotel on your own. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Paracas Reserve. The name of this beautiful place is derived from a Quechua word meaning “sand rain” probably due to the strong winds that hit the evenings here. The Paracas National Reserve is also very important since in their inhabited waters you'll find abundant quantities of zooplankton and phytoplankton, which allows for a variety of fish that allow industrial and artisanal fisheries. The Paracas National Reserve is located in an area of 335,000 hectares and is considered one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. During our visit, we will see the beautiful cliffs and beaches including the red beach Yumaque and Lagunilla.

Ballestas Islands

At 8:00 am, you’ll take the excursion to the Ballestas Islands. At the dock, you will board a speedboat equipped with life vests and comfortable seats. At this point, it is advisable to wear a good jacket or wind breakers as it gets very windy once the boat gets in motion. You will leave then towards the Ballestas Islands. Along the way you will see the famous figure known as The Candelabro, an enigmatic design etched on the desert floor hundreds of years ago. Afterwards, you will continue to The Ballestas Islands. These islands are inhabited by amazing marine life, with over 200 types of migratory and resident birds, including Peruvian Pelicans, Belcher’s gulls, Humboldt penguins, guanay cormorants, red-legged cormorants, Inca terns, Peruvian boobies, turkey vultures, among others. In addition, you will also see around the Islands hundreds of sea lions resting at the beaches, sleeping on the rocks or swimming nearby.

The Islands also provide shelter to the shy Humboldt penguins which are usually seen at the entrances of small caves near the cliffs. After touring around the islands for about 1 hour you will return to the harbour. In the afternoon, take the regular bus towards the city of Ica (1 ¼ hours approx.). Once in Ica, our driver will meet you at the bus station and will transfer you to your hotel located in the Huacachina area.

Meals: B

Sand Buggy Ride & Sandboarding

Begin your fun-filled trip with an exhilarating sand buggy ride. Cruise to the top of 500-metre-high sand dunes and go rocketing down the slopes in this recreational vehicle. This roller coaster ride of 360s, sharp turns and steep hills will get your adrenaline pumping before you take your first shot at sandboarding. You will have the opportunity to sand-board on 3-4 different dunes so you can try your luck. You will take thrilling rides on a basic sand board by laying face first on the board and letting yourself fly down the dune to see how far (and fast) you can go. Cheer on your mates and don't let anyone shy away from this unforgettable experience. Lastly, you will admire the breathtaking sunset over the vast desert landscape and have the chance to take photos in the golden twilight before racing back to Huacachina.

(Experienced sand-boarders can choose to upgrade to a professional sand-board with boots and bindings for an extra cost of $8 USD paid locally. Upgrades are subject to availability. To reserve, please contact us in advance with your shoe size. On the day of the tour, you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure for your fitting. For beginners, we recommend the laying down option as it is much easier and lots of fun!)

Meals: B

Flight over Nazca Lines

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to the bus station to take the regular bus towards the city of Nazca (2 ½ hours approx.). Once in Nazca, you’ll be met and transferred to the aerodrome Maria Reiche to fly over the Nazca lines by light small aircraft for 30 minutes. The Nazca lines are located in the desert, a high arid plateau that stretches between Nazca and Palpa on the pampa (a large flat area of southern Peru). The Nazca lines are geoglyphs and geometric line clearings in the Peruvian desert and are still an enigma. Since their discovery, these lines have inspired fantastic explanations from ancient gods, a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar created by the ancient civilization, used for rituals probably related to astronomy, or clans who made up the population and to determine through ritual their economic functions held up by reciprocity and redistribution, or a map of underground water supplies. Flying over the area you can marvel looking at the perfect shape of animals, flowers, plants, objects, and anthropomorphic figures of colossal proportions made with well-defined lines.

After the overflight, you’ll be transferred back to the bus station to take the regular bus back to Lima (7 ½ hours approx.).

Meals: B