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Paracas & Ica

Desert, coast and ancient mystery

Paracas & Ica

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N° 01

The Chronicle

Desert, coast and ancient mystery

PeruIcaEspañol

Where the Atacama meets the Pacific, Peru's southern coast stages one of its most dramatic landscapes. Cliffs fall into cold, wildlife-rich sea. Dunes swallow the horizon. And etched into the plain, the Nazca Lines wait — a geometry so vast it can only be read from the air. We arrange private overflights at dawn, wildlife encounters in the Paracas Reserve and days in Huacachina's singular oasis before any other group arrives.

Curated by Kada

Insider Secrets

What no guidebook will tell you

Our Paracas & Ica specialists arrange access that exists in no catalogue: private dinners inside an illuminated huaca at dusk, after-hours visits to private collections, and intimate encounters with artisans whose work never reaches the market.

A note from our travel designers

Different Perspectives

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The Territory

Where to go

Paracas Peninsula & National Reserve

N° 01

Paracas Peninsula & National Reserve

The Paracas National Reserve — 335,000 hectares of desert, cliffs and cold ocean — is Peru's richest coastal ecosystem. Red-sand beaches, cathedral rock formations and sea cliffs where Humboldt penguins nest beside Inca terns. We arrange private vehicle access to the reserve's restricted interior zones, impossible by public transport.

N° 02

Ballestas Islands

Nicknamed the 'Poor Man's Galápagos', the Ballestasare Peru's most concentrated marine wildlife encounter: sea lions by the thousand, colonies of Humboldt penguins, Peruvian pelicans and boobies on layered guano cliffs. We charter private boats for sunrise departures — before the standard tour flotilla arrives.

Ballestas Islands
Nazca Lines

N° 03

Nazca Lines

Etched between 500 BC and 500 AD by the Nazca civilization, the Lines remain one of archaeology's great mysteries. The spider, the hummingbird, the astronaut: 70 figures and hundreds of geometric lines visible only from altitude. We arrange private two-seater plane overflights at dawn, when light is low and thermals are calm, with expert commentary from a certified Nazca archaeologist on board.

Handpicked

Where to Stay

Hotel Viñas Queirolo

Ica Valley

Hotel Viñas Queirolo

A note from our specialists — chosen for its details, its service, and its sense of place.

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Hacienda Bahía Paracas

Paracas Bay

Hacienda Bahía Paracas

A note from our specialists — chosen for its details, its service, and its sense of place.

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Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort

Paracas Bay

Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort

A note from our specialists — chosen for its details, its service, and its sense of place.

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Paracas & Ica panoramic

The Calendar

When to go

May – October: Dry Season (Recommended)

The clearest skies and calmest seas. Coastal fog — the garúa — is minimal. Wildlife is most concentrated at the Ballestas Islands and Paracas cliffs. Temperatures on the coast range from 15 to 22 °C; cool enough for dune hiking, warm enough for the water. Desert nights are cold: 10–14 °C. Book Nazca overflights for early morning to avoid afternoon winds.

November – April: Warmer, More Humid

Southern hemisphere summer brings warmer temperatures (20–28 °C) and occasional coastal clouds that rarely amount to rain. Nazca overflights remain possible; sea conditions can be rougher for Ballestas boat trips. December and January see higher visitor volumes. This period is better for those combining the coast with Machu Picchu during the Lima shoulder season.

The Curation

Unique experiences

Private two-seater overflight of the Nazca Lines at first light, with a certified archaeologist narrating each figure. Exclusive dawn boat charter to the Ballestas Islands before any other vessel leaves harbour. A private table set in the Huacachina dunes at sunset, after a dune buggy expedition with a specialist guide. Full-day private access to the Paracas Reserve interior — flamingo lagoons and fossil beds — in a dedicated 4x4.

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