Huacachina, Peru is an oasis located in the heart of the Ica region’s desert, and the only natural one in South America. This area is tiny, but there are plenty of things to do here. That’s why we’ll show you some places where you can make the most of your Huacachina trip.
The Sandboarding Tour will take you through the Huacachina dunes like a roller coaster. Buckle up and grip on tight because you'll be flying up and down these towering sand mounts at high speeds!
You'll make a few stops to admire the breathtaking Peruvian desert. You'll take some photos and then continue to the most distant spots. There, you will finally master the sand dunes of Huacachina on a sandboard. In these tours, drivers have all the necessary equipment for you to slide through the dunes like a pro or simply roll down, as most of us did the first time.
You can lie flat on the sandboard, or if you're feeling brave, you can slide down while standing. Believe us, it's not as easy as it looks, but is a completely new experience! There are tiny sand dunes for beginners, as well as huge dunes for racing your friends. These tours are ideal for all skill levels, and your tour guide will show you what you need to do.
Booking a tour is the best way to experience sandboarding. The majority of the area's tour companies provide sandboarding and dune buggy tours complete with all the necessary gear.
To perform this activity, remember that Viagens Machu Picchu offers this kind of tour. We’ll provide you with all you need to dive into the dunes. Give all the details about this trip to us, so you’ll only worry about having fun.
Dune buggy tours are given all day. They take visitors on an amazing ride into the desert. You can expect an exhilarating experience with several dips and bounds! A dune buggy trip of the Huacachina desert is an excellent opportunity to discover the area while keeping kids entertained.
Children older than nine can participate, and the majority of visits are conducted in groups. The Huacachina dune buggy sunset trip allows you to explore the area in the evening. This tour is a total blast, as it seems like a roller coaster, but with sand. Prepare to scream at the top of your lungs from beginning to end!
Pisco is Peru's national drink. It is an alcoholic beverage made from a grape type known as 'aguardiente'. This grape has been grown on our country's southern coast since the sixteenth century.
Historians say the Ica region, more exactly Pisco village was the birthplace of Pisco. So, it has some of the oldest vineyards in the country and Latin America. As a result, Viagens Machu Picchu made a unique itinerary that will take you to three of the region's best-known vineyards!
On this guided tour, you’ll see El Catador, a typical vineyard on the outskirts of Ica that has produced wines and piscos since 1856. This facility provides a full experience, including learning about the distillation process and trying cocktails.
Bodega Vista Alegre is another well-known Pisco winery in the country, producing on a considerable scale. It produces approximately 5 million liters of pisco per year. We have Bodega Tacama too, South America's first vineyard, made in 1540 by Francisco de Carabantes. The winery's offices are located in the well-preserved historic Convent of San Agustín in Ica.
The vineyard spans 180 hectares, located 300 kilometers from Lima, at an elevation of 400 meters above sea level. Bodega Tacama is one of the country's most well-known vineyards. In case you want more information about this tour, you can visit this link.
You can relax and allow the beauty of the oasis to envelope you as you take a quiet boat tour on a pedalboat. Once in the boat, you’ll see that this lagoon is surrounded by flora. The calm waters reflect the tall palm trees and huge sand dunes, resulting in a tranquil and stunning setting that will take your breath away.
It's an ideal way to relax and appreciate the quiet of nature. You can find boats and canoes along the shore, don’t forget to take pictures of the lagoon and the oasis!
Our country boasts stunning sunsets, and the skies near Huacachina are especially beautiful! Watching the sunset is probably one of the most enjoyable things to do here. The colors are beautiful, and the night is magnificent thanks to the starry sky.
We highly recommend finding a quiet spot on the sand dunes to watch the sunset. Remember that the sun sets at approximately 6:00 p.m. Set up somewhere attractive between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. to avoid missing any of the fun.
TIP: Take the sandboarding and dune buggy tour in the afternoon, and just after the end of the tour you’ll see the beautiful sunset, at the right time to capture the moment by taking pictures. Just don't forget to pack a light sweater or a long-sleeved shirt, as you’ll see that it’ll get cold when the light goes off.
After the sunset, the oasis comes to life at night. Huacachina has plenty of restaurants and bars, some of which are inside hotels or hostels such as Arenas, Bananas’ Adventure or el Huacachinero are some establishments that we recommend. These places serve a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic wines, beers, and cocktails.
TIP: In case you really want to party, we recommend “The Wild Rover” hotel, known as the "party hostel". The Wild Rover throws crazy parties every night, with pool parties held in the afternoon almost every day. The music in this hotel doesn’t end until 1 am, in some cases, even continuing until 4 am or later.
Paracas is extremely close to Huacachina, about 1.5 hours away. The Ballestas Islands, also referred to as the Peruvian Galapagos Islands, are made up of several islands and rock formations.
With a total area of 3,350 km2, the Paracas National Reserve offers a gorgeous home to a variety of plants and wildlife such as sea lions, Humboldt Penguins, and more. This Reserve is one of the most diversified locations on Earth because it provides an ideal habitat for the growth of marine species.
That’s why this natural wonder is the major attraction for travelers visiting Paracas. A two-hour boat trip is a convenient way to see them, and you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins while you're doing it!
Nazca is a small city that houses the Nazca Lines, a collection of more than 1,100 geoglyphs made between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. that are situated in the Nazca Pampas. Even after the Nazca civilization, these figures remained in use. The exact function of these sculptures is unclear. However, many archaeologists believe that they are an astronomical calendar and a ritual center.
Some lines are over 350 meters long and others are as long as 5 meters. The killer whale, the monkey, the astronaut, the hummingbird, the condor, and the spider are a few of the most well-known.
As you see, the Huacachina is full of attractions that are waiting for you, why don’t you come over and see all of them for yourself? Viagens Machu Picchu offers the best service possible, not only to Huacachina but to all of Peru. See our destinations, and let’s embark to know closer to the Inca heartland!
