When I first stumbled upon Huacachina as the sand-boarding mecca of Peru, I added a new must-do in my bucket list. And then came the images of soaring sand dunes, the legend of a mermaid princess who created the natural oasis that is Huacachina, and the death-defying reviews of dune buggy rides. I was hooked.
Huacachina is only 5kms from it’s sister city, Ica where all the main bus lines stop. The city of Ica is only a 4-5 hour bus ride from Lima, and a $2 taxi ride will get you to the small town of Huacachina. The norm after a stopover in Ica is to get back on the bus south to Nazca, 2-3 hours away.
The Huacachina oasis and towering sand dunes - funkz
What to do
Huacachina is the only oasis in South America, surrounded by massive waves of sand that stretch to the Pacific. It is now known as the best place in Peru to get your thrills on a sand-board and a dune-buggy. You can even fork out the cash to hire your own 4×4 and explore the mounds by yourself.
It’s quite the tourist town (less than 200 people live there permanently) so expect to see a lot of backpackers wanting the same experience as you. After hours playing on the hot sand dunes, you can relax by the plethora of swimming pools with a book, and regain your strength for the nightlife ahead.
As the town depends entirely on tourism, and the majority of clientele are young adventure-seekers, there is a lively night scene to say the least. Keep in mind that it’s a small isolated village, meaning food and drink prices are more expensive than the rest of Peru.
Dune buggy races - jmage
Ica shouldn’t just be transferred through either, it is known as the land of the sun because of the cultivation of grapes, asparagus and olives, among others. The Ica Valley is also the biggest wine producer in Peru, well something a little stronger than wine… Pisco. There are many winery and bodega tours where you can learn how to make the Pisco Sour and sample, sample, sample the day away.
Where to stay
Desert Nights is the only Hosteling International hostel in Huacachina. It lacks a swimming pool and dance club, which is a norm for the other resorts here. Really good location-wise, clean and affordable.
Casa de Arena is a popular backpacker hostel, also known as the night-time party centre. So if you’re after a more relaxed weekend where sleep is before sunrise, this probably isn’t the place for you. It has a swimming pool, bar, restaurant, disco and even a volleyball court.
Huacachinero is another good budget option, less popular than Casa de Arena but with better facilities. It has a swimming pool, bar, hammocks, and they offer camping as well as hostel accommodation.
Skeptical sand-board vendor - Aleks J Clark
We’re unsure yet whether we’re going to make the trip to Huacachina… I thought it could make for an adrenaline-filled weekend away from Cusco. But the more I keep googling, it looks like Huacachina is rather tricky to get to, if you’re not starting from Lima (direct north) or Arequipa (direct south) that is. The 20 hour bus ride from Cusco (to the east) to Ica is a bit of a turn-off, even before the fact that the bus might not actually stop there and continue on it’s merry way to Lima. But the opportunity to try sand-boarding in this picturesque village weighs a ton!
Featured image by Rick McCharles from Flickr’s Creative Commons
We are heading to Peru this week and will definitely stop off here on our way up the coast. It does seem easier to access from Arequipa or Lima.