Since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved roller coasters. So when I heard about an oasis in the middle of the Peruvian desert where dune buggies fly over sand dunes up to 700 feet tall, you better believe I immediately added it to my itinerary. That desert oasis is called Huacachina, and when you reach the mysterious, palm tree-lined green lagoon, you’ll think you’re seeing a mirage.

Huacachina is part of Ica (the capital of the Ica Region), which in addition to adrenaline activities, is known for its wine and pisco production, making it appealing to both adrenaline junkies and wine enthusiasts alike. I only spent a few days in Ica, but took full advantage of experiencing the adventure activities as well as taste testing many of the local beverages. Keep reading to find out all about this strange and exhilarating place!

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN HUACACHINA?

Take a dune buggy & sandboarding tour:

As soon as you enter Huacachina, you will hear the constant roar of the dune buggy engines, which are basically gutted 4x4s turned into transformer-like monster trucks made for the sand. They whizz around town all day long, and although there are many companies offering these rides, I booked my tour with MyTriPeru, and would highly recommend them for your Huacachina adventure. (I also booked a wine tour with the same company, but I’ll get to that next!)

I knew the dune buggy tour would be fun, but I was not prepared for HOW fun it was going to be. As our driver put the peddle to the metal as we went nearly straight down a 700 ft dune, the incessant screaming of the woman behind me had me laughing until I had tears streaming down my face. He whipped around the massive dunes, causing our buggy to catch some serious air, which sent my adrenaline through the roof. Even if you’re not a thrill-seeker, the views alone are worth it. The ripples in the sand created a desert-like ocean before us, and the sun falling behind the golden dunes made for a sight I will surely never forget.

In addition to zipping around the monstrous desert dunes for an hour, the tour also includes sandboarding… if you’re daring enough! Basically you lay belly down on a sandboard (same thing as a snowboard, but made for the sand) and fly down a dune! To be really entertained, watch the video below and listen to the woman I was talking about scream as I zoom down the hill. It’s freaking hilarious…

After sandboarding, our driver took us to a viewpoint in the dunes to watch a magical sunset. I had never seen the sun disappear behind mountains of sand before, and it was pretty mesmerizing. The tour finished by stopping off at another viewpoint, this time overlooking the glittering Huacachina below.

Cost: 50 Soles ($15USD)

Tour times: Runs every hour on the hour from 9am to 4pm and lasts for one hour. The last tour of the day is at 4:30pm and actually lasts for 1.5hrs. I recommend booking the latest tour, because that last half hour is so you can see the sunset over the sand dunes!

To book with MyTriPeru: Contact Luis on Whatsapp – +51 955 927 456 or email him – operatorluis@gmail.com. For more info, visit their webiste – http://www.mytriperu.com/

Discover Peru’s wine region:

As a wine-lover I was very excited to try some local wines, as I had never tried Peruvian wine before. Seeing as Ica is Peru’s Wine Region, I made sure to book in a wine tour with MyTriPeru. Although this tour typically stops at El Catador (an artisanal winery) and Tacama (more of a industrial winery), Luis (the owner of MyTriPeru) took me on a private tour to El Catador, and Bodega Lazo which was a small very quirky winery.

What I learned from my wine tour? Peruvian wines are VERY sweet. At El Catador I tried their entire line, including a wine called “Amor Perfecto,” because they say it has the perfect sweetness, as well as a wine they call “The Divorce Wine,” because they say it’s bitter. If I tell you that the wine they called bitter, was one of the sweetest wines I’ve ever tasted, can you just imagine how sweet the Amor Perfecto was?

Although extremely sweet, I really enjoyed the tasting and even got a private tour of the grounds and learned more about the winemaking process in this region. One main difference, instead of using wooden barrels like I’m used to seeing, they use large ceramic vessels that look like giant vases. 

At the second winery, Bodega Lazo, I was wowed by their very odd and eclectic wine cellar, which was home to not only aging wine and pisco, but also a stuffed sea lion, old typewriters, paintings of all styles and all sorts of odds and ends. I kind of felt like I was back in time, in a scene out of the Pirates of the Caribbean or something. Needless to say, I was very happy we stopped here.

The wineries were so different to any I’ve ever been to in the United States or Europe, so it was a really interesting activity that I would recommend to any wino out there looking for a new kind of wine-tasting experience!

Cost: 65 Soles ($20USD)

Tour times: Tour upon request. Tour lasts 3.5 hours.

To book with MyTriPeru: Contact Luis on Whatsapp – +51 955 927 456 or email him – operatorluis@gmail.com. For more info, visit their webiste – http://www.mytriperu.com/

Spend an afternoon relaxing by the Huacachina Lagoon:

Huacachina means weeping woman in Quechua, and is named after a local myth. Legend has it that when an Inca princess’ husband suddenly died, she cried so much that her tears collected into a lagoon. They say that not long after, she was sitting on the bank of the lagoon mourning, when an evil spirit crept up behind her. To escape, she dove into the lagoon and transformed into a mermaid. But beware, it is said that she still lives in this lagoon, a lonely widow, and likes to take visitors down to the bottom with her! (Aside from this legend, I probably wouldn’t swim in the water anyways, at it doesn’t look all too clean…)

But if you are daring enough, you can rent paddle boats and drift along the small lagoon for the afternoon. There is also plenty of beach on one end of the lagoon where lots of people lay out towels and soak in the desert sun. Huacachina is a resort town, with many bars and restaurants surrounding the lagoon, so if you grow tired of the sun, there’s plenty of places nearby to gain reprieve!

WHERE SHOULD I STAY IN HUACACHINA?

For a desert “glamping” experience: EcoCamp Huacachina

I loved my stay at EcoCamp Huacachina mainly because it was such a unique experience, and was a nice break from my long streak of hostel stays, with “glamping” type accommodation instead.

The tents are very spacious with all the amenities of a typical room, just without the sturdy walls! The beds are incredibly comfortable, and there’s even an extension cord to plug in a fan for the hot nights and to charge all of your electronics. If you’re worried about keeping your valuable safe, don’t worry, as they provide a locker inside of the tent to store your belongings. Each tent has a table and chairs right outside to relax and gaze out at the surrounding sand dunes from. It’s also located a short walk away from the famous lagoon and the busier part of town.

The pool was really nice, with plenty of sun loungers for sun-deprived travelers. If you’re in the market for a drink, there’s even a swim up bar which I thought was really cool! Your stay comes with a complimentary breakfast of fresh fruit, natural juice, eggs, fresh rolls and coffee served by the pool in the morning.

If you’re looking for a different kind of experience during your trip, I would definitely recommend EcoCamp Huacachina. It’s a really chilled out place for an excellent price and you can’t beat the location.

For much needed R&R away from the tourist crowd: The Upcycled Hostel

Located just outside of Huacachina, The Upcycled Hostel is a mini oasis in the middle of the desert, and is the perfect spot to rest and recharge in a super relaxed atmosphere with the nicest hostel owners I have ever come across.

From the moment I walked onto their property, Renzo & Andrea treated me like a friend they had known for years. They honestly take the phrase “mi casa es tu casa” to a whole new level, and will go out of their way to make sure you have the best stay possible. Renzo offers homemade Pisco to his guests, and encourages everyone to mingle and hang out around the bar to trade travel stories and make new friends, which made my only night there really fun and very memorable.

The property itself is so unique, as they repurpose what others may call junk into gorgeous furniture and creative decor. From a bar made out of wine bottles, to bathroom sink bases made from Singer sewing machines – heck, even the grass is repurposed lawn clippings! It is a seriously eco-friendly hostel, and was immediately evident as to why they named it the Upcycled Hostel! I also loved the bright colors everywhere, the refreshing/clean pool in the center of the property, and the views of the surrounding sand dunes.

I stayed in a private room and slept like a baby, as the beds are incredibly comfortable with soft linens and plenty of space. There are only shared bathrooms, but I didn’t find that to be a problem whatsoever. If you’re on a tighter budget, they offer nice dorm rooms as well.

This property is located outside of Huacachina, so don’t expect to be right near the lagoon, but it’s only a 10-15 minute walk away. Honestly, I preferred staying outside of Huacachina for a little while, as it’s crowded with tourists and only serves mediocre, overpriced food. Staying a little outside will allow a more authentic experience. In fact, Renzo will probably offer to take you to some of his favorite restaurants so you can sample some local food. They have a restaurant onsite that offers really fresh, yummy food, and even provide complimentary breakfast, but because they are more concerned about making sure their guests have an awesome experience than about money, they are happy to point you in the direction of other great local food nearby. I’m telling you, it’s like staying with a friend!

HOW DO I GET TO HUACACHINA?

By Bus from Lima:

The bus from Lima takes about 5 hours to get to Huacachina, with a few stops in Pisco, Paracas and maybe a few others along the way. I used Peru Bus throughout most of my trip in Peru and had a very easy and pleasant experience. The busride cost 38 Soles (under $12) and was comfortable with plush, reclining seats, air conditioning, and a snack included.

By Bus from Paracas:

The bus from Paracas takes about an hour, and is basically a straight shot inland. I purchased my bus ticket with Peru Bus online, and the trip cost 12 Soles (under $4). The bus will drop you off at the main bus station in Ica. From here you will need to get a tuk-tuk to Huacachina town which only takes about 15 minutes and should cost you no more than 5 Soles. Don’t bother taking a taxi, tuk-tuks are more fun and cheaper!

WHERE SHOULD I GO NEXT?

Lima!

Find out all the amazing things you can do in Lima by checking out my recent post, How to Spend 2 Days in Lima.

Paracas!

Just an hour away you can explore Peru’s top wildlife-watching destination! For amazing photos and more information about Paracas, check out my recent post, The Ultimate Guide to Paracas: Peru’s Coastal Marvel.

Disclaimer: I received some complimentary stays & tours during my time in Huacachina in exchange for my opinions, but all opinions are my own. I only recommend places I would stay myself and tours that I love!

Wander On,

Wanderluluu xx