Right in the heart of the Peruvian desert, surrounded by towering dunes, lies a natural oasis called Huacachina. This natural wonder has become one of the main attractions near Lima due to its remote location, adventure activities, and breathtaking scenery.
Huacachina is located 5 hours away from Lima and only 15 minutes from the city of Ica. This beautiful lagoon wasn’t recognized until the 1960s when the Peruvian government established it as a National Cultural Heritage Site to promote tourism.
Less than 100 people inhabit this small village and attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists yearly. The weather condition of this natural wonder makes it suitable for those looking to unwind and experience the endless summertime of this location.
The Huacachina oasis is the only of its kind on the whole continent, where its imposing dunes offer the perfect setting to practice sandboarding and going on a dune buggy ride through the extensive desert of Peru.
Nevertheless, this location serves as a fun resting point for those who venture out to Southern Peru, making it the perfect stop on the way to Arequipa or Cusco. However, this region has a lot more to offer rather than its everlasting spring pool.
Ica is recognized for housing the oldest wineries in Latin America and some of the best producers of wine and pisco in South America. Most of these distilleries are open to the public and offer guided tours through their establishments, as well as tastings of the different liquors they produce.
In addition to that, Huacachina is located a couple of hours away from the city of Nazca, making it easily accessible to visit and experience this mystery in the Peruvian desert. Therefore, if you’re looking for a middle point surrounded by the best attractions of the arid horizons of Peru, this is the destination for you.
Huacachina certainly stands out for the many activities to do there and its authentic scenery. This touristy village built around a majestic lagoon offers great accommodation options, chill-out cafés, and the best restaurants and bars in the area.
Things to Do
1. Dune Buggy Tour in Huacachina
This is the most sought-after activity to do in the Huacachina desert. If visiting this beautiful oasis, don’t miss the chance to cruise around the sand dunes on a dune buggy! This ride will take you through several dunes as if you were on a roller coaster and if you take the afternoon ride, you’ll be able to glance at the marvelous sunset from the desert.
2. Sandboarding in the Peruvian Desert
Most dune buggy rides complement the tour with a sandboarding activity. After driving around the desert, you’ll have the opportunity to slide through several dunes by lying on a sandboard. However, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, dare to do it standing!
3. Pisco Vineyards in Ica
As aforementioned, Ica is recognized for being the principal producer of wine and pisco in Peru. Therefore, some of the most renowned distilleries offer guided tours through their establishments, where you get to know the distillation process and taste some of these iconic beverages.
Weather in Huacachina
The so-called Only Natural Oasis of America enjoys dry mild weather with temperatures that reach up to 35°C during the day. However, nighttime is always chilly with beautiful starry skies throughout the year. Huacachina is a paradise destination in the middle of the desert, famous for its warm weather conditions.
How to Get to Huacachina?
For most travelers visiting Southern Peru, Huacachina is the resting point for those coming from the beautiful Paracas National Reserve since it’s located one hour away from this exotic beach town.
Currently, Huacachina is only accessible by bus. But, not all bus companies take you to this small village, most of them have a drop-off location within the city of Ica, which means that, upon arrival, you must find a taxi that takes you to this location.
However, we are here to make things easier for you! If your travel itinerary takes you through southern Peru, make sure to learn everything about the best destinations to visit before organizing your trip. Luckily for you, we have a special travel package that takes you through Peru’s unique destinations.
