Multi-Day Trips from Ica, Peru
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There is no train from Lima to Ica, and no scheduled commercial flight lands there either; every multi-day route through this desert runs on the Panamericana Sur by coach or private van. Once that’s settled, Ica turns into an excellent hub for looping three very different landscapes into one trip.
The classic 3-day southern desert loop
Day 1 covers a coach from Lima to Paracas, a speedboat past the Candelabro geoglyph to Islas Ballestas for penguins and sea lions, then an overland tour of the Paracas National Reserve before transferring to Huacachina for the night. Day 2 slows down: a morning tasting at a bodega like Hacienda Tacama or Bodega El Catador, then a sunset dune buggy and sandboarding run. Day 3 pushes south to Nazca (2 to 2.5 hours by bus) for a 30-to-35-minute overflight of the Nazca Lines before heading onward, running roughly $80-120 base, closer to $105-120 once the airport tax and tourist ticket are added. Fly only with a currently well-reviewed, modern-fleet operator like AeroNasca or Meteorito Aerolíneas: Peru cut the number of authorized operators and retired older aircraft after a cluster of fatal crashes over a decade ago, and standards have held since, but a fatal crash as recently as 2022 means this isn’t a “book any flight at the airstrip” situation. The small planes bank steeply over each geoglyph, and motion sickness is common even for travelers who don’t usually get queasy; consider timing the flight for the morning, before winds pick up. Book the 3-day Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca tour covers this exact route from Lima.
The 2-day Lima-Huacachina weekend
A tighter version for a short break: Peru Hop or Cruz del Sur out of Lima on Saturday morning, an afternoon bodega tasting and sunset buggy tour, overnight at the oasis, then a Sunday morning lagoon paddle before the return trip. Peru Hop holds the municipal permit to drive directly into Huacachina; standard public buses only reach the terminals in central Ica city, leaving a short taxi ride to the oasis.
The 3-day off-grid desert and ocean route
For travelers who want fewer crowds: Day 1 runs Ica to Cañón de los Perdidos by 4x4, Day 2 crosses the Ocucaje desert to the remote Pacific coastline at San Fernando National Reserve for sea lions and condors, and Day 3 continues into the Nazca valley for the geoglyphs before looping back to Ica. This route needs a licensed desert guide throughout; standard rental cars are barred from off-road driving and cannot handle the soft sand.
Whichever loop you build, book Huacachina accommodation ahead for the December-to-March peak season; search hotels and hostels in Huacachina to compare what’s still available. For the non-motorized side of a Huacachina stop, our outdoor activities guide covers dune trekking and stargazing away from the buggies. Pack a fleece even for a summer trip; desert nights drop fast once the sun clears the dunes.
Withdraw cash in soles before you reach the oasis. Huacachina has no reliable bank ATM of its own; the single machine there charges steep foreign fees and regularly runs dry, so pull what you need from a bank ATM in central Ica first, since taxis, dune entry fees and small vendors all run on cash.