Overnight Trips From Lima
Lima has no multi-day trips of its own. It is a city you base yourself in, and the longer outings leave from it by road or air. This page lists the honest overnight options and the ones that belong to other guides. Prices are in soles (S/).
Paracas and the Ballestas Islands
The most common overnight is Paracas, roughly 250 to 300 km south and about 3 to 4 hours each way by coach. Sleeping near the port means you are at the pier for the first boat. Boat tours to the Ballestas Islands leave from El Chaco pier, usually at 8:00 and 10:00, last about 2 hours and cost about S/ 40 plus about S/ 16 in pier fees. You do not land on the islands. You see sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds from the boat.
Paracas with Huacachina
Huacachina is a desert oasis in the Ica region, further south than Paracas, and it is known for dune buggies and sandboarding. It is not a Lima day trip. Hop-on coach operators sell packages of two or three days that join Paracas and Huacachina, and a version with a flight over the Nazca lines. Compare itineraries and check that the price covers the boat fees and entry to the reserve.
Nazca
Nazca is about 450 km south of Lima, a very long ride by coach. The lines are seen on sightseeing flights, which operators sell from Nazca and from Ica. Treat it as part of a longer southern loop rather than a quick extra.
Caral and the north
Caral in the Supe valley is about 180 km north of Lima, around 3.5 to 4 hours each way. A day trip is possible, but a night near the site is easier on the road. Press reports from 2020 gave opening hours of Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00, so confirm them before you go.
Lunahuana
The Canete valley, about 3 hours from Lima, is known for rivers and vineyards. It suits a weekend stay. Check the season and any operator in advance.
Cusco and Machu Picchu
These are reached by air and are a separate trip with their own altitude advice. Lima is at sea level, so none of the altitude guidance for Cusco applies to the capital. See the Cusco guides for those plans.
What this page leaves out
An in-city itinerary of three days in Miraflores, Barranco and the Historic Centre is not a multi-day trip. For that, see the Lima itineraries linked below.
Travel notes
Use coaches from established companies and avoid night travel on the Panamericana where you can. The UK government says protests can block roads and disrupt transport, so read the UK travel advice for Peru before you book. If you want a hotel near Paracas, compare options on Booking.com for Paracas .
Read more: day trips from Lima , the 3 day Lima itinerary and the 7 day Lima itinerary .