Full Day Tour of Ica, Huacachina and Desert Adventure

This tour is the perfect combination of culture, nature, and adrenaline, ideal for those who want to experience the vibrant south of Peru in its entirety. Departing from the historic city of Ica, you’ll travel through sun-drenched landscapes, palm trees, vineyards, and a unique natural oasis in South America. The day begins with a visit to a traditional winery, where you’ll learn about the artisanal process of making pisco, Peru’s national spirit. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll explore ancient clay vessels, listen to stories that blend tradition and family heritage, and enjoy a tasting that will allow you to recognize aromas, textures, and nuances in every sip.

Afterward, you’ll continue to the historic center of Ica, a place where identity and history are palpable. Among quiet streets, colonial churches, and palm-fringed plazas, you can observe the daily life of the region and understand the cultural importance of this city in Peruvian history. Here, a window opens to connect with the people, their rhythm, and their essence.

The adventure reaches its most exciting point upon arriving at Huacachina, an oasis surrounded by immense golden dunes that seem to stretch to the horizon. This place, considered one of the most impressive landscapes in the Peruvian desert, becomes the ideal setting for an adrenaline rush. You’ll climb aboard powerful buggies that will take you at full speed across the dunes, climbing and descending slopes that quicken your heart and elicit spontaneous laughter. Later, you can try sandboarding, gliding across the sand and enjoying an experience full of freedom and excitement.

🧭 Itinerary

🚐 Departure from Lima – Heading to Ica

Very early in the morning, we begin this adventure from Lima, traveling south on the Pan-American Highway. During the approximately 4-hour journey, you’ll enjoy coastal landscapes, fertile valleys, and golden dunes that characterize Peru’s coastal region. Our guide will introduce you to the history, customs, and curiosities of Ica, known for its eternal sunshine, pisco, and desert energy.

🍷 First stop: Artisanal winery

Upon arriving in Ica, we’ll visit a traditional winery, where you’ll learn step-by-step the process of making Peruvian wine and pisco. Here, you’ll discover techniques inherited from the colonial era, the clay wine presses, and the copper stills used in distillation.

Next, we’ll participate in a guided tasting that includes:

• Varieties of dry, sweet, and Burgundy wines
• Pure Pisco made from Quebranta and blended grapes
• Artisanal fruit liqueurs (optional)

An ideal sensory experience to connect with the local culture and toast the start of the day.

🏛️ Ica City Tour – Historic Center and Tradition

We continue with a brief but enriching city tour of downtown Ica, visiting its main urban attractions:

• The Plaza de Armas, surrounded by palm trees and Republican-era architecture
• The Ica Cathedral, notable for its Neoclassical style
• Monuments, emblematic streets, and some shops selling typical Ica sweets

During this tour, you’ll learn historical facts about the ancient inhabitants, earthquakes that shaped the city, and Ica’s evolution as an agricultural and cultural center of southern Peru.

🍽️ Lunch on your own at a local restaurant

At lunchtime, you’ll have free time to choose from the typical restaurants in town or along the road to Huacachina. The guide will recommend the best places based on your preferences. Among the dishes you can try are:

• Carapulcra with sopa seca, an icon of Afro-Ican cuisine
• Coastal ceviche, perfect for the midday heat
• Ají de gallina or seco de res, accompanied by chicha morada or passion fruit juice

🏝️ Huacachina – Oasis among dunes and palm trees

In the afternoon, we’ll head to the magical Huacachina Oasis, a natural lagoon surrounded by enormous dunes and palm trees, where the landscape looks like something out of a postcard. You’ll have free time to:

• Take photos at the viewpoints and along the oasis’s edge
• Relax with a drink while enjoying the scenery
• Buy souvenirs, handicrafts, or desert accessories

Huacachina is the perfect place to enjoy the warm climate, panoramic views, and unique energy in the middle of the desert.

🏜️ Extreme Adventure on the Dunes: Dune Buggies and Sandboarding

The most anticipated moment of the day arrives with the exciting desert adventure. We’ll hop into dune buggies, all-terrain vehicles that will take us at top speed across the highest dunes in Ica, on a journey filled with adrenaline and laughter.

Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to try sandboarding, sliding down the dunes as if you were on snow, but on sand! This experience combines sport, scenery, and pure excitement.

Also, weather permitting, you can admire the sunset over the dunes, one of the most spectacular in southern Peru.

🌆 Return to Lima – End of an unforgettable day

After this experience filled with culture, flavor, and adventure, we begin our return journey to Lima. We will arrive in the city between approximately 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., depending on traffic. You will return with a tired body but a recharged spirit and unique photos of the Ica desert and Huacachina.

✅ What’s Included in the Tour?

Everything you need for a complete, comfortable, and worry-free experience is included in this tour:

🧭 Professional Tour Guide (Spanish)

Throughout the day, you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide who will share the history of Ica, fascinating details about the Huacachina oasis, facts about pisco and local culture, and ensure you make the most of every activity.

🚌 Private Tourist Transportation (Lima – Ica – Lima)

Comfortable and safe round-trip transportation by tourist bus from Lima. The service includes scheduled stops, air conditioning, and a professional driver.

🍷 Guided Tour of a Traditional Winery

Includes a tour of the vineyards, distillation areas, and an explanation of the wine and pisco production process. Also includes:

• Tasting of artisanal wines and piscos
• Explanation of the varieties and traditional techniques

🏛️ Panoramic City Tour of Ica

Guided tour of downtown Ica: Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, iconic monuments, and cultural facts about the city.

🏝️ Visit to the Huacachina Oasis

Includes free time to walk around, relax by the lagoon, take photos, visit viewpoints, and explore souvenir shops.

🏜️ Dune Buggy Tour + Sandboarding on the Dunes

One of the most anticipated activities of the day: a dune buggy ride through the desert and sandboarding with a guide. Adrenaline guaranteed!

❌ What’s not included?

To avoid any surprises, here’s a breakdown of what’s not included in the price:

🍽️ Lunch and drinks

Lunch is not included, but we’ll stop in Ica so you can choose and enjoy the local cuisine. The guide will recommend quality options at good prices.

🧃 Additional drinks during the winery visit

The guided tasting is included, but if you’d like to order more drinks or purchase bottles or liquors, the cost will be your responsibility.

📸 Additional activities or souvenirs

Personal purchases, souvenirs, snacks, or extra activities in Huacachina are not included. Please bring cash for any optional purchases.

💁 Voluntary tips

Tips for the guide and driver are not included. They are entirely optional, but always welcome if you’d like to show your appreciation for the excellent service.

🌟 Recommendations

Before embarking on this day filled with culture, flavor, and adrenaline, here are some helpful tips to ensure a comfortable, safe, and fun experience:

👟 Wear light clothing and comfortable shoes

During the day, you’ll be taking leisurely walks through the city, a winery, and the desert, so it’s best to wear light clothing, sunglasses, a hat, and comfortable sneakers or sandals with good support.

🧴 Don’t forget sunscreen

The weather in Ica is usually very sunny year-round. Apply sunscreen before leaving Lima and reapply it during the tour, especially before activities in the desert.

💧 Bring water and light snacks

Although there are stops for meals, it’s recommended to bring your reusable water bottle and some healthy snacks (nuts, granola bars) to stay hydrated and energized.

📷 Have your phone or camera ready

Huacachina, the wineries, and the dunes offer unique photo opportunities. Make sure your device is charged and, if possible, bring a portable charger.

🎒 Bring a small backpack

A lightweight backpack will be enough to carry the essentials: documents, water, sunscreen, camera, and cash.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📍 Where does the tour depart from?

The tour begins in Lima, with pick-up from pre-arranged meeting points in districts such as Miraflores, San Isidro, or the Historic Center. You can also inquire about private transportation for groups.

🕐 What time does the tour start and end?

Departure is around 4:00 a.m., and the return to Lima is approximately between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., depending on traffic. It is a full-day tour.

🍽️ Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included and is at the traveler’s expense. However, we will stop at a local restaurant with a variety of typical Ica cuisine. The guide can help you choose a good place.

🧗‍♀️ Is experience necessary for sandboarding?

No. It’s a 100% recreational activity and suitable for beginners. The guide will teach you how to launch yourself onto the sand safely. You can do it standing, sitting, or lying down, depending on your confidence.

🧒 Is the tour suitable for children or seniors?

Yes. The tour is family-friendly, but we recommend that children be supervised in the dune areas and that seniors avoid the buggy ride if they have back problems or high blood pressure.

💵 Should I bring cash?

Yes. Some establishments do not accept cards. Bring cash for lunch, souvenirs, or optional activities within the oasis or winery.

🎒What should I bring?

ID, hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, camera or cell phone, cash, and plenty of energy for the adventure.