Top Lima Day Trips

There are plenty of high-quality Lima day tours to choose from. Looking at ratings and reviews given by previous customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Premium Paracas & Huacachina Day Trip from Lima with Sunset Toast

• Full Day Tour From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis

• Paracas and Huacachina Exclusive Sunset Picnic Tour

• Paracas & Huacachina Premium Experience from Lima

• Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Guided Tour

Lima day tour prices vary depending on duration and inclusions, but they’re pretty reasonable per hour, especially if they include transportation. At the low end of the price range, group tours to Paracas start around US$55 per person. At the upper end of the price range, expect to pay at least US$600 per person for all-day tours that include sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines.

Yes, day trips from Lima are worth it, even if it's not your first time visiting Peru. Between Paracas, Huacachina, the Ballestas Islands, the Nazca Lines, and Caral, there are so many places to explore along the coast and in the desert outside of Lima. Guided tours usually include transportation, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride, or, if your day tour includes an aerial experience, the flight.

Per one traveler who booked the Premium Paracas & Huacachina Day Trip from Lima with Sunset Toast, "They say this experience is a once-in-a-lifetime for a reason. Every element from the bus ride to Paracas, the boat ride, the pisco tasting, and ending with a truly marvelous sunset dune ride and sandboarding in Huacachina blew our minds. This is something we will be talking about and will remember for a lifetime."

Before booking Lima day tours, make sure to read the tour’s start and finish times. The most popular tours start early—think 4:30am—and many don’t finish until late evening. Also, if you get motion sickness, you may want to steer away from day tours that include dune buggy desert excursions and/or boat rides to the Ballestas Islands, where it can be quite choppy on a good day.

To fully enjoy Lima day tours, get a good night’s sleep to be ready for the long day ahead. Try to get a window seat on the bus, so you can nap during the drive or enjoy the scenery. Also, make sure to pack a bandana or a buff if you’re going to the desert, as you’ll get sand everywhere; motion sickness tablets and a waterproof bag if you’re going to the islands; and sunscreen, no matter where you’re going!

There are tons of fun tours and excursions in Lima aside from Lima day tours. According to previous travelers, these are the best activities to book for your next trip:

• Lima Sandboarding

• Lima Paragliding

• Lima Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

• Lima Cooking Classes

• Lima Bike Rentals

Yes, it’s possible to do the Nazca Lines on a day trip from Lima. However, keep in mind that the lines are approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of the city. Unless you’re flying, expect at least a 6-hour drive each way. You’ll definitely spend more time in the car or bus than you will in the air on your flightseeing experience.

The drive from Lima to Paracas, where you can take a boat to the Ballestas Islands, takes around four hours depending on traffic. From Paracas, it’s about a 30-minute boat ride to the islands where most tours cruise around for an hour or so before heading back to the pier.

For most travelers, the best way to see the Pachacamac ruins is on a half-day small-group tour that includes pickup, transportation, a tour guide, and admission to the museum and ruins. It's hard to go wrong with the popular Tour to the Archaeological Sanctuary of Pachacamac (Small Group) tour, which is limited to 15 travelers per trip. Per one reviewer, "Excellent tour with Melanie. She was very detailed in her explanation of the historical site. We had a great half-day tour and can recommend anyone to take this tour."

A day trip to the desert warrants long, lightweight, and ideally, light-colored layers and long socks you can tuck into your pants to keep the sand out. To avoid getting sand in your mouth and nose, you’ll also want a hat and a buff or bandana. If you’re visiting the islands, plan to wear a water-resistant or waterproof shell for the boat ride and waterproof shoes, or a spare pair of shoes, in case your feet get wet.

It’s best to book tours at least two weeks in advance during the high season (June to August), or when Lima schools are out. Otherwise, you can usually book a few days ahead and still find plenty of space, especially for weekday tours. If the tour you’re hoping to book is sold out, ask about joining a waitlist.