Ica Tour 2 Days / 1 Night (Ballestas-Huachachina-Nazca)

Description

Discover the fascinating southern Peruvian coast with our 2 days and 1 night Ica Tour. On the first day, starting early in the morning, we will explore the marvelous Ballestas Islands, home to amazing marine life and guano birds. We will continue to Ica, where we will visit an artisanal winery to learn about the production of Pisco and wine, followed by a relaxing free time at the oasis of Huacachina, where you can enjoy buggy rides and sandboarding in the impressive dunes. On the second day, we will head to Nazca, where you will have the opportunity to explore the fascinating Cantalloc Aqueducts and fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines on a scenic flight. In addition, we will visit the Cahuachi Ceremonial Center to immerse ourselves in the history and culture of this ancient civilization – a unique experience you won’t want to miss!

DAY 1: BALLESTAS ISLANDS - HUACACHINA

At 04:30 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel or coordinated place to go to the city of Paracas, we will arrive in Paracas at 8:00 a.m. approximately. Afterwards you will go to the dock “El Chaco” to board a boat that will take us to the Ballestas Islands.

The first stop of our boat will be in front of the enigmatic Candelabro, a huge geoglyph designed in the sandy summit that has the shape of a trident with more than 2500 years old. We will discover the different hypotheses about its origin, which could be linked to ancient pirates or even with the creators of the famous Nazca Lines.

Continuing our tour we will arrive at the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands are three small islands where we will discover the impressive maritime and ecological richness of Peru. We will be impressed by immense colonies of sea lions and Humboldt penguins, and by the countless guano birds that fly over the area.

Although it is forbidden to land on the islands so as not to alter the ecosystem or disturb the animals, we will get close enough to see them interacting in their natural habitat. We will skirt the three islands in a crossing of approximately one hour. Then, we will return to the Paracas dock.

Afterwards, we will continue our trip to Ica. We will visit an artisan winery where the Peruvian brandy known as Pisco is made. In this place our local guide will take us on a tour of the winery’s facilities and will explain the ancient method of elaboration of Pisco and wine. After the tour our clients will be able to taste the different varieties of Pisco and wine that this winery produces, and if they wish, they will also be able to purchase these products.

Afterwards, we will go to the Huacachina Oasis, a place located only 5 Km. from downtown. In this beautiful lagoon visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the place and walk around in search of good photos and / or restaurants (free time).

At 4:00 pm, or coordinated time, the sand buggy ride through the dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon begins. Also, the huge dunes surrounding the lagoon allow visitors to practice one of the most fascinating sports in the area, popularly known as Sandboarding, which consists of sliding on a board on the desert sand. Overnight in Huacachina.

DAY 2: NAZCA

At 06:30 am, you will go to the province of Nazca, where you will have 3 activities:

TOUR ACUEDUCTOS DE CANTALLOC, This place is located 3 km east of the city of Nazca, these subway channels were built by the ancient Nazca approximately 500 years after Christ, thanks to these channels we have water all year round, because our rivers are always dry, the ancient Nazca were the best hydraulic engineers as they used materials that resisted for more than 1500 years, they controlled the speed of water and found the way to perform maintenance. This tour has a duration of 2 hours.

FLIGHT OVER THE NAZCA LINES, The flight over the Nazca Lines lasts approximately 30 minutes and is the best way to see these fascinating lines and drawings that have intrigued people for years. Here, you will be able to see the various figures drawn on the surface of the Nazca desert, representing stylized animals and plants, distributed in a huge maze of lines, trapezoids, triangles and spirals that have been preserved for almost 2000 years. At the end of this activity you will have some time for lunch.

TOUR TO THE CAHUACHI CEREMONIAL CENTER, This archaeological site is located 28 km southwest of the city of Nazca. CAHUACHI is made up of a group of ceremonial plazas, stepped temples and pyramids; all of which served as a place for sacrifices and offerings. Archaeologists believe that it was the inhabitants of Cahuachi who built the Nazca lines, since it was located very close to them. In addition, you will also visit the Maria Reich Museum, and the pottery, goldsmith and weaving workshops.

After the visit to the above mentioned places, you will go to the city of Ica and there you will board the bus that will take you back to the city of Lima. Also, at the bus terminal in Lima you will be picked up by the transfer and taken to the hotel. End of service.

Pick up from hotel in Lima, or agreed place (Miraflores area).
Tax in Paracas.
Tax in Huacachina.
Return bus ticket (Ica-Lima).
01 night accommodation in Huacachina.
Ticket to fly over the Nazca lines.
Buggy ride and Sandboarding (Ica).
Ride on the sliders (boat in Paracas).
Tax in Cantalloc, Cahuachi and Maria Reiche site museum.
Tourist transportation in the tours.
Professional guide during the tours.
Orientation and permanent monitoring to the passenger.

Tax at the Nasca aerodrome (77 soles).
Meals.
Consumption or Personal Expenses of the Passengers.

Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun during outdoor activities in Huacachina and Nazca.
Wear comfortable and light clothing, as well as shoes suitable for walking on the sand during the buggy ride and sandboarding in the Huacachina dunes.
Make sure you have enough water and snacks to keep you hydrated during the Ballestas Islands tour and the Nazca Lines overflight.
If you suffer from motion sickness, consider taking preventive medication before the flight over the Nazca Lines to avoid any discomfort.
Don’t forget your camera or cell phone to capture the breathtaking scenery and memorable moments throughout the tour.

PRICES PER PERSON IN SHARED TOUR ACCORDING TO HOTEL CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION (Hotels and similar)	Prices in dollars
With Hotel ★★★	USD. 360
With Hotel ★★★★	USD. 395

Prices are based on double, matrimonial or triple rooms. Those who wish to occupy a single room will have to pay the corresponding difference, according to the category of the selected hotel.
This tour package is flexible, at the request of the client it is possible to modify both the itinerary and the hotel, for which it will have to be re-quoted. Also, you can request a quote in private tour service if you prefer.