Paracas, Nazca, Ballestas (3D)
Extension Tours are only offered in conjunction with our full Peru tours.
Heading south from Lima, the Pan-American highway takes us to the bayside town of Paracas. Using Paracas as our home base, we enjoy a flight over the famous Nazca Lines (flight included in price). It is believed the Pre-Inca Nazca culture drew these representational figures and lines in the desert. The mystery of their meaning and function is only compounded by the fact that they can only be viewed, in their entirety, from the air. In the afternoon you may enjoy access to your hotel activities (pool, kayaks, exercise room, etc…), walk into the nearby small town of Paracas where you can dine on fresh caught seafood, shop or stroll the short beach promenade. Before your return to Lima, you will have a boat tour of the Ballestas Islands (“Mini-Galapagos”) to observe the birds and marine life of Paracas National Reserve. Though Paracas is only 3.5 hrs from Lima, this tour feels worlds away.
**Optional – 2 Day Paracas, Nazca Lines & Ballestas Islands (omits extra night and Paracas)
Itinerary
Paracas, Nazca Lines & Ballestas Islands (3 Day)
DAY 1: LIMA – PARACAS
Paracas Accommodations
Morning transfer to bus station, board your comfortable Royal Class bus driving south along the coastal desert to the bayside town of Paracas (approx 3.5 hrs due south). After checking into your hotel you will have the rest of day free to enjoy your hotel, relax by the pool, kayak the Paracas Bay or choose an optional activity (on your own). Overnight Paracas. (B)
Optional Activities: Ica's Regional Museum, Huacachina oasis lagoon, traditional Pisco winery or take a dune buggy ride and surf the giant sand dunes.
DAY 2: PARACAS – NAZCA OVERFLIGHT – PARACAS
Paracas Accommodations
In the morning we will transfer to the Pisco airport (20 min). The round trip flight from Pisco to the Nazca Lines takes 1.5 hours. The plane has a 12 person capacity and each seat has a window making easy to take good pictures of the scenery during the flight. These drawings were made in the sand over 2,000 years ago. You will see gigantic geometrical line figures including a monkey, spider, condor, reptile, fish, hummingbird, etc. Return to Paracas and rest of day free to enjoy your hotel, relax by the pool, kayak the Paracas Bay or choose an optional activity (on your own). Overnight in Paracas. (B)
DAY 3: PARACAS – LIMA
8 AM - After breakfast we transfer to the Paracas Bay pier for a morning cruise to the Ballestas Islands (2 hrs). Often referred to as the "Mini Galapagos", here you can see penguins, sea lions and more than 60 species of sea birds. On the way you also will see the "Candelabro" a large, mysterious sand design that can be seen only from the sea or sky. Return to hotel for check out. You will have time for lunch before our afternoon return by Royal Class bus to Lima (approx 3 hrs - arrival 6pm). Meet and transfer to your hotel or airport. (B)
Key: (B)reakfast, (L)unch, (D)inner
