If you want to experience the diversity of Peru, you should definitely visit Huacachina. Just outside the city of Ica, you’ll find a green oasis around which the village of Huacachina is built. In the past, this was a popular spot for the wealthiest people to seek refreshment. Huge sand dunes form a desert landscape that is perfect for some really cool things to do.
How to get to Huacachina?
Most people travel to Huacachina from Lima, Nazca, or Arequipa. Below you’ll find information on how to travel to Huacachina from these destinations.
From Lima to Huacachina
From Nazca to Huacachina
To get to Huacachina from Nazca, take the bus to Ica, which takes about 2 hours. Check the current departure times and reserve your bus ticket in advance. Once you arrive in Ica, take a taxi or tuk-tuk for a 15-minute ride to Huacachina.
From Arequipa to Huacachina
What are the things to do in Huacachina?
Here are our top 4 tips for the best things to do in or around Huacachina.
#1 Sandboarding and Buggy Tour
The first buggies depart for the desert at 4 pm. These futuristic vehicles come in all colors and give you the feeling of being on a rollercoaster. You speed through the desert and over the dunes at high speed. After about 20 minutes, it’s time for the real deal as you suddenly find yourself on top of a huge sand dune. It’s time to go sandboarding! You place your board with the tip over the edge and lie on your stomach while holding the ropes at the top of the board. You get a push to get over the edge and then slide down at high speed. Before you know it, you’re at the bottom of the hill with a good dose of adrenaline in your body. Now, you wait for the buggy to pick you up and take you to the next hill to sandboard from even higher hills 2-3 more times! If you don’t want to go too fast, you can easily brake by sticking your toes in the sand.
You can book this tour anywhere in Huacachina, and it departs at 4 pm. You can also go earlier, but then you’ll miss the sunset, which is so beautiful here. If you stay at Banana’s Adventure, this tour is included. If you stay elsewhere, you can also book the tour here. They go a bit further than other tours and look for higher dunes.
Tip: Wear closed shoes and long pants because the sand can be very hot. Also, don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen, and leave your jewelry at the hotel.
#2 Fly over the Nazca Lines
Flying over the Nazca Lines is a must-do in Peru. These mysterious drawings are thought to have been made between 200 BC and 900 AD, and it’s still a puzzle why exactly they were made. The dozens of gigantic figures of different objects such as animals, insects, spirals, and triangles are only visible from the air. Seeing these drawings is already a cool experience, but the flight in the small plane is something you’ll never forget. A flight over the Nazca Lines will cost you about $100, and the travel time to Nazca is just over 1.5 hours. Take a taxi to Ica and from there the bus to Nazca. Read our tips for a flight over the Nazca Lines beforehand.
#3 Climb the Sand Dune During Sunset
One of the higher sand dunes in the area is the sand dune that is directly next to the oasis. From here, you have a fantastic view of the oasis and the vast desert. You can climb this sand dune in about 20 minutes, and it’s especially recommended during sunset. Leave an hour before sunset so you have enough time to enjoy the spectacular view.
#4 Spot Wildlife at Paracas National Park
From the village of Paracas, boats depart every day at 8 am and 10 am to the special Ballestas Islands that are part of the Paracas National Park. This protected nature reserve is a safe haven for animals such as sea lions, penguins, Peruvian cormorants, and pelicans. It’s a beautiful 2-hour tour where you sail around the islands. You can book this tour with transportation in Huacachina, or you can travel independently by bus to Paracas and buy a ticket for the tour there. The travel time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Take a taxi to Ica and then the bus to Paracas.
Best Restaurants in Huacachina
There are only a limited number of restaurants in Huacachina, and unfortunately, most of them are not very good. We have tested quite a few and found the restaurant of La Casa de Bamboo to be the best, with delicious chicken lomo saltado and falafel sandwiches. Wild Olive Trattoria is also pretty good when it comes to pasta dishes. Other than that, we couldn’t find any good restaurants in Huacachina.
Our favorite places to stay in Huacachina
At Ecocamp Huacachina, you can sleep in a spacious tent on the edge of the oasis. The tent has a comfortable bed with good blankets for the cooler nights. A big plus is the pool with lounge chairs where you can relax or enjoy the view of the sand dunes. If you prefer a room, then Banana’s Adventure is one of the best options in Huacachina. They also have a pool and a cozy atmosphere. They offer both double rooms and a dormitory, and with every night you book, an activity such as sandboarding is included, as well as breakfast. Huacachina only has a handful of hotels, and the best ones often fill up early, so be sure to book in advance.
  Ecocamp Huacachina |
  Banana’s Adventure |
