Day Trips From Lima
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on February 27, 2021 by James Bustamante
Day trips from Lima can be a wonderful option for someone who has limited time to get to know the area. There are many great places to visit just a few hours from the Miraflores district in Peru such as the Lima city tour, The Pachacamac ruins, The Ballestas Island near Paracas or a drive to Lunahuana.
You don’t need to go for a Machu Picchu hike to feel like you have traveled around Peru. Hiking the citadel is all well and good but the destinations near Lima are also fun and cultural experiences.
The Lima City Tour
The Lima city tour is the bread and butter in day trips from Lima. It will usually have 2 schedules that you can choose from, this makes it a very versatile day trip that you can do regardless of what your daily schedule is.
You will be able to pick from the Lima city tour leaving your hotel at 8:30 am or the evening tour that leaves the hotel at 4:30 pm.
This day trip will take you through many districts in Lima, like Miraflores, Barranco, The center of Lima to see the colonial age buildings, the Plaza de Armas, and then off to the bohemian district of Barranco.
This trip will include lunch at 1:00 pm as well as a complimentary Pisco sour for you to enjoy.
The Lima city tour can be taken as a group or if you prefer we can organize it as a private experience for you and whoever is traveling with you.
The Paracas Reserve and Ballestas Islands
This day trip from Lima has a very early morning start since we have some traveling ahead of us. We have a private transport pick us up at the hotel and drive down the Panamericana Sur highway.
As the name states, we will be heading down South from Lima through beach towns, sand dunes, and deserts to reach the Paracas reserve and Ballestas islands. The drive will take anywhere from 3-4 hours each way depending heavily on traffic.
Once we arrive at Paracas bay we will board a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands to see the wildlife this area has to offer.
The Paracas national reserve is a special point in the entire Pacific coastline of South America. It is one of the few places where you will have such a large variety of seabirds as well as seals and sea lions.
If we are lucky we will even get a glimpse of the giant sea otter and Andean flamingos. The boat ride to the Islands will take around 30 minutes and the entire boat tour will be around 1.5 hours.
Afterward, we return to the Paracas port and visit one of the local restaurants where the specialty is seafood, there will of course be other options just in case. We end this day’s trip from Lima by boarding the vehicle and returning to your hotel.
Lunahuana
Next on our list of day trips from Lima we go white water rafting and eat tasty river prawns. The Lunahuana valley is located 3-4 hours outside the city of Lima. To reach Lunahuana we will leave the hotel as early as 7:00 am.
We then head south, this is a similar route we took to reach Paracas up until we reach the town of Ica, home of the Peruvian brandy known as Pisco.
At this point, we move away from the coastline and head into the mountains until we reach the Cañete river and the Lunahuana valley. The name Lunahuana comes from the Quechua word “Lunac Huanac” which translates to village or town when used together.
Once we arrive at the village of Lunahuaca we will have a tour of the place. This village is known for several things from their Pisco, River prawn,s and wild trout, and their adventure sports.
Yes, after the tour of Lunahuana we will go ahead and have a white water rafting trip down the Cañete River. Once we are finished with the white water adventure we can go ahead and have lunch in one of the many restaurants this village has to offer.
The specialties in this area are booking with river prawns, fresh trout and we can’t leave out the Pisco. This day trip will have the group returning to Lima by 7:00 pm.
The Pachacamac Ruins
Pachacamac ruins are an archaeological site 40 kilometers (25 mi) to the South of Lima near the Lurin River Valley. , Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. This destination was named after The greater god called Pacha Kamaq, also known as the “Earth Maker”.
This tends to be one of the more popular day trips from Lima because it involves a cultural tour through ancient ruins without the need to travel all the way to Cusco to see them.
We can literally arrive at the Pachacamac ruins in under one hour from your hotel in Miraflores. The ruins include pyramids, temples of the sun, and the Pachacamac idol.
We return to Lima in the afternoon just in time to get lunch at a Miraflores restaurant. If you prefer to have lunch in Pachacamac, we can arrange to eat at a “restaurant Campestre” which means one of the local valley restaurants.
Specialties here would include Chicharron (deep-fried pork) and Pachamanca which is a series of dishes cooked on hot stones underground for hours.
Sur Chico
Next of this brief list of Day trips from Lima is the “Sur chico” which basically means the route of beaches just a few minutes outside of Lima.
I would recommend this option if you are in Lima anytime from January – April which includes the warmer, sunny months in and near Lima. The beaches are very much a part of the local culture.
“Limeños” will work all week and make sure to get the time at the beach on the weekends. So if you have time during the week (when it is not crowded) then this is a great idea if you are into walking on the sand and getting some sun.
The beaches to visit in Sur Chico would be Punta Negra, Punta Hermosa, San Bartolo and Santa Maria. They are all 30-45 minutes away from Miraflores by car. This day trip from Lima can be arranged with one of our drivers or if you are feeling adventurous, you can pick a beach and hire a taxi and just go.
The coastline near Lima is known for its seafood dishes which include the famous Ceviche, Arroz con Mariscos and many more.
We suggest starting this day trip as early as 8:00 am so you have a chance to first have breakfast at the hotel. Afterward, the driver can take you to the beach or beaches of your choice. Relax for the day soaking up the sun. We will begin heading back by 4:00 pm latest so you can avoid traffic on the return trip.
Ica and Huacachina Lake
The next destination on the list of possible day trips from Lima would be a visit to Ica and Huacachina lake. This is always a favorite among travelers and the best part is that it can be done in a single day.
We leave at 7:00 am and head south once again, past the Sur Chico until we reach the city of Ica almost 3 hours later.
This region is known for its great weather and soil dedicated to wine-growing. Ice is full of vineyards dedicated to wine as well as Pisco making.
Ica is also the home to the Huacachina lake and the many sand dunes this area is known for. We can head over to this lagoon that is located right in the middle of the desert, nestled between sand dunes.
Some activities you can do here would be sandboarding, riding dune buggies and of course, go on a wine and Pisco tasting tour throughout the valley. We return to Lima by 8:00 pm.
In Conclusion
There are various possible day trips from Lima that you can take. From the colonial Lima city tour to taking dune buggies through the desert in Ica.
As long as you manage your time efficiently there are always fun and rewarding things to do near Lima, Peru. For more ideas on Peru travel or organizing your Machu Picchu tour, contact our travel advisers today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips From Lima
Can I go to Ica and back to Lima all on the same day?
Yes, this is perfectly doable as long as we leave Lima early enough.
Is Huacachina Lake man-made?
Yes, Lake Huacachina in Ica is a man-made lagoon and not really a lake.
How far is the Paracas national reserve from Lima?
The trip from Lima to Paracas is around 4 hours.
Will a day trip from Lima include a driver and guide?
Yes, with all-day trips we include both a driver and a guide to all destinations.
Will day trips from Lima include entrance fees?
Yes of course, we manage all entrance and admission costs to parks, reserves as well as guides and transportation. You only need to worry about having fun and taking awesome pictures.
What are some available day trips from Lima?
You can visit Pachacamac, The Paracas national reserve, Ica, Lunahuana and even head to some of the local beaches.
