Leave Lima at 6 AM in a spacious air-conditioned coach and head south for a packed but easy day on the coast and in the desert. First stop: Paracas for a 2-hour boat tour around the Ballestas Islands – sea lions barking on the rocks, Humboldt penguins waddling, birds everywhere in a mini-Galapagos vibe. Lunch keeps you fueled before the short ride to picturesque Huacachina, the palm-fringed oasis surrounded by South America’s biggest dunes. You get free time to wander the lagoon or just soak in the view, with an optional buggy ride and sandboarding add-on for that extra adrenaline rush down the massive sands.
