How to Visit Ica, Huacachina and Nazca Lines in One Day
1. Ballestas Islands, Winery and Huacachina Oasis
This is an ideal itinerary for those who want to be close to nature, learn about the making process of Pisco and have fun in the sand dunes with an amazing view of the Huacachina Oasis.
Your first stop in Ica will be Paracas Beach, famous for being the entrance to the Paracas National Reserve. Here, the scientists found more than one thousand species of animals. From here, you can take a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands.
Ballestas Islands are considered the “Peruvian Galapagos” due to the number of species of birds and fish around the area. Here, there are good chances to see lots of sea lions, penguins, the endemic bird Inca Tern, seals and maybe dolphins.
After the wildlife experience, you can visit a winery, where local families produce artisanal Pisco. This is a great opportunity to learn and also taste Peruvian Pisco.
Continuing with this super adventure, you can visit the Huacachina Oasis, the only Oasis of South America. Here, you can have a local lunch and spend a relaxing time. Or if you want to feel some adrenaline, you can hop into a Sand Boogie or practice Sand Boarding!
2. Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines
If you want to experience a mix of history, nature, and mystery, you can enjoy the wildlife at the Ballestas Islands and finish the day by flying over the millenary and enigmatic Nazca Lines.
After visiting Paracas Beach and the Ballestas Islands, you can fly over the mysterious and enigmatic Nazca Lines drawn on the desert by the ancient Nazca people. Up to this day, their meaning remains a mystery. Some people believe it was a calendar, others think it was an offering to the gods. There are many theories about the Nazca Lines, including that they were symbols to communicate with aliens. You can choose your favourite theory.
Have in mind that to see the Nazca lines you have to take a 45-minute flight from Pisco and then come back. Once in Pisco, you can return to Lima after a day full of adventures.
3. Ballestas Islands, Nazca Lines, and Huacachina Oasis
If you want to know Ica to the fullest then you must visit all of its main attractions. This is the perfect itinerary for those who want to experience history, nature, mystery, and adventure in one day.
First, you can take a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands and enjoy nature and wildlife. Then you can fly over the Nazca Lines, see its mysterious shapes and learn about their history. Finally, you can end the day exploring the Huacachina Oasis. Here you can go for an exciting sand boogie ride or choose to practice sandboarding in the dunes.