Beyond Lima: Overnight Options by Road
Lima has no multi-day trips as a destination in its own right. It is the starting point for longer routes. This page lists what is realistic, with approximate distances from the city, and what to leave to other guides.
Overnight options at a glance
| Place | Distance from Lima | Why stay overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Paracas | About 250 to 300 km south | Catch the first boat to the Ballestas |
| Huacachina | Further south, in the Ica region | Dunes and sandboarding |
| Nazca | About 450 km south | Flights over the lines |
| Caral | About 180 km north | Early start at the site |
| Lunahuana | About 3 hours by road | Rivers and vineyards |
Paracas
Boats to the Ballestas Islands leave from El Chaco pier, usually at 8:00 and 10:00, with an extra noon sailing in January to March and on holidays. The trip takes about 2 hours and costs about S/ 40, plus about S/ 16 in fees on the pier (S/ 11 for the national protected area and about S/ 5 for boarding). Landing on the islands is not permitted. Staying in Paracas lets you be at the pier for the first departure without a pre-dawn coach.
Huacachina and Nazca
Huacachina is a desert oasis known for dune buggies and sandboarding. Nazca lies still further along the same road. Coach companies sell two and three day combinations of Paracas, Huacachina and a flight over the lines. Compare what is included, especially boat fees and entry charges.
Caral
A day trip is possible, since the Supe valley site is around 3.5 to 4 hours away, but the road time is long. Press reports from 2020 gave site hours of 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Saturday.
Lunahuana
A short stay in the Canete valley suits people who like rivers and wine. Ask local operators about the season.
Cusco and Machu Picchu
These need a flight and their own plan, including altitude acclimatisation. None of that applies to Lima, which sits at sea level. Keep Cusco for a separate guide.
What this page does not cover
A plan of three days in Miraflores, Barranco and the Historic Centre is a city itinerary, not a multi-day trip. It is covered in the itineraries below.
Planning notes
Prefer daytime coach travel on the Panamericana. The UK travel advice warns that protests can block roads, and the same page lists the regions to avoid, none of which lie on these routes. If you want a bed near Paracas, see stays around Paracas .
Read more: day trips from Lima , the 5 day Lima itinerary and the 6 day Lima itinerary .