Escape to the surreal oasis of Huacachina, a desert haven that defies expectations! Nestled amidst towering sand dunes, this tiny village revolves around a shimmering lagoon, offering thrilling sandboarding and exhilarating dune buggy adventures. Discover why Huacachina is a must-see on any Peru travel itinerary. Get ready to experience the magic of this unique desert paradise and learn how to plan your own Huacachina experience!
A Quick Look at Huacachina
Country: Peru
Population: 100
Language: Spanish
Currency: Sol
Best Month to Visit: August
Must See: Sunset on the dunes
Must Eat: Huacachina house
How to get to Huacachina
Bus: Ica is the closest city that has a bus terminal that is just a few kilometres from Huacachina. You can catch buses from Lima (4h), Arequipa (12h), Cusco (17h), Puno (20h) and Nazca (2.5h) .
When you arrive you will need to grab a taxi to Huacachina that takes around 10 minutes(3.9km) and costs about 10 Soles. There will be plenty of taxi drivers waiting around for a fare. You can check bus schedules and book online with busbud.
When is the best time to visit Huacachina?
Huacachina like most cities on Peru’s western coast is hot and dry all year round and can be visited all year round. We would recommend planning the timing of your trip around visiting Cusco and the sacred valley in the dry season.
Where to stay in Huacachina
Huacachina is tiny and there are only a few options available from cheap hostels to more expensive 4-5 star hotels. For the ultimate desert experience you can also camp on the dunes so if you are after a unique and memorable experience maybe consider that also. We stayed at a place called la Casa de Bamboo and it was a cute little no frills hotel on the edge of town. It had a good vibe, the staff were super helpful and we were able to book our dune buggy tour from there as well.
Things to do in Huacachina
Huacachina is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss in Peru but there is only a few activities on offer so given that you will only need one full day here to experience this fascinating and unique place.
Dune buggy tour
Probably the most popular activity, this high octane and thrilling tour takes you on a roller coaster like ride up and over and all around the dunes. The tours normally includes sandboarding and of course amazing panoramic views of the dunes. You can also take the sunset tour that finishes off with watching the sun dip behind the dunes for a truly unforgettable experience. There are various tour operators around town and you may also be able to book from your hotel. The tour operator come to our hotel to collect us and we walked with them up to the dune buggy parking area just outside of town.
Boat on oasis
The best way to experience the oasis is on it! You can hire a paddle boat and have a bit of a frolic on the water, the oasis isn’t the biggest body of water but you will get amazing views of the surrounding dunes that tower over the oasis.
Hike the dunes
There are various viewpoints high up in the dunes that surround Huacachina where you can get amazing views of the oasis and the surrounding dunes. We have marked a couple of spots on the map and the best is Duna Norte, it is also probably the highest and will take about an hour to slog your way up the dunes to reach it. You will be rewarded with fantastic views! just don’t forget to bring plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen as it is incredibly hot and exposed.
Where To Eat & Drink
There are not many options available with a lot of places having mixed reviews. We ate at Huacachina house and the food was pretty good and the restaurant had a more local and chill vibe than the other places in town.
Next Stop:
- Cusco Capital of the Inca!
- Ultimate Machu Picchu Travel Guide
- Hike the Ancient Inca Trails at Huchuy Qosco
Also check out our YouTube video below 👇
