How to Spend 24 Hours in a Desert Oasis | A Comprehensive Guide to Visiting Huacachina, Peru
Huacachina is a desert oasis located near the city of Ica in southwestern Peru. It is famous for its stunning natural beauty, towering sand dunes, and picturesque lagoon. Huacachina is a small village built around a natural oasis, characterized by a lush lagoon surrounded by palm trees and towering sand dunes. The oasis is fed by underground springs and is a haven for wildlife, including birds and fish. It is a popular destination for adventure sports enthusiasts, offering activities such as dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Visitors can take thrilling rides on rugged off-road vehicles through the sand dunes or glide down the steep slopes on sandboards, experiencing the adrenaline rush of desert adventure.
Despite its adventurous reputation, Huacachina also offers opportunities for relaxation and leisure. Visitors can unwind by the lagoon, go for a swim, or rent paddleboats to explore the tranquil waters surrounded by palm trees. Huacachina is easily accessible from major cities in Peru, including Lima and Arequipa. It’s a popular stop on many travelers’ itineraries, whether they’re exploring the country’s southern coast or embarking on a desert adventure.
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Where is Huacachina?
Huacachina is located in southwestern Peru, near the city of Ica. The oasis town is approximately 190 miles south of LIma and typically takes 4-5 hours by car, depending on traffic and road conditions.
When is the Best Time to Visit Huacachina?
The best time of year to visit Huacachina is during the dry season, which typically runs from May to October. During these months, the weather is typically sunny and dry, making it ideal for outdoor activities like sandboarding and dune buggy rides. However, Huacachina can be visited year-round, so it ultimately depends on your preferences and travel plans.
Huacachina has a desert climate, characterized by hot and dry conditions throughout most of the year. Daytime temperatures can reach highs of around 77-96 degrees Fahrenheit, while nights are cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 59-68 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall is minimal, especially during the dry season. You may experience occasional brief showers during the summer months (December to March). Overall, Huacachina enjoys warm weather and plenty of sunshine most of the year. You will probably want to dress lightly, but bring layers for sandboarding and chilly evenings.
How to Get to Huacachina
From Lima
The only way to get from Lima to Huacachina is by bus, as there is no airport in Huacachina or the nearby town of Ica. Peru Hop is the only bus that has a bus running directly from Lima to Huacachina (with a stop in Paracas to see the Paracas National Reserve). You can book a public bus from Lima to Ica, and then grab a taxi for $3-4 for a 15-minute ride to Huacachina.
From Cusco
The route from Cusco to Huacachina is significantly more difficult. The quickest option would be flying from Cusco back to Lima, and then taking a bus from there. The cheapest option would be booking a public bus from Cusco to Ica, but that will result in a 19-hour overnight bus ride. Peru Hop also has a route from Cusco to Lima that includes a stop in Huacachina, if you choose to explore the country that way.
Where to Eat in Huacachina
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With its charming ambiance and delectable cuisine, this trattoria offers a unique dining experience where Italian flavors meet the exotic charm of Huacachina. From homemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas to fresh seafood dishes, every bite is a celebration of flavor and authenticity. The rustic decor and warm hospitality create a welcoming atmosphere to unwind after a day of exploring the sand dunes and thrilling sandboarding adventures. Whether you’re savoring a leisurely meal or indulging in a romantic dinner under the desert stars, Wild Olive Trattoria promises an unforgettable experience in the heart of Huacachina.
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For a beautiful view of the oasis scenery, check out the rooftop bar and restaurant at the Desert Nights Hostel. The menu features a wide variety of fresh seafood, chicken, and vegetarian options, all culminating in delicious traditional Peruvian cuisine. Enjoy a Peruvian craft beer or a local wine while you look out at the vast sand dunes in every direction. This bar also has the best cocktails in the oasis, made with fresh fruit and locally sourced ingredients.
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One of the best rated bars and restaurants in the oasis, Huacafuckingchina is the place to go for nightlife in the town. It definitely turns into the party bar in the evenings, coming alive with dancing and music. The bar also features a decent and affordable food menu, offering traditional dishes like lomo saltado, and more American options like burgers and fries.
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Located in a small bed & breakfast around the oasis, La Casa de Bamboo is the perfect place for everything from a full English breakfast or Peruvian coffee to a Thai curry for dinner. The prices are very reasonable and the menu offers a variety of cuisines to suit any palette. The restaurant also offers several vegan and vegetarian options to choose from.
Where to Stay in Huacachina
Banana’s Adventure
Banana’s Adventure is one of the most popular hostels for backpackers and young travelers due to its inviting pool area, on-site bar and restaurant, and numerous activities that can easily be booked and arranged at the front desk. The hostel offers a variety of accommodation options, from traditional dorm-style rooms to private rooms. Book your stay here for the ultimate desert adventure!
This sustainable accommodation in the desert offers guests the opportunity to camp in the desert. The campground is located slightly further away from the main hub of the oasis, and provides more privacy and a quieter stay. At the campground, you can book a variety of activities including dune buggy tours and enjoy the use of their outdoor pool. There is a restaurant and bar on-site offering brunch, lunch, and dinner. Continental breakfast is included for all guests staying at the campground.
One of the more luxurious stays in Huacachina is at Hotel Las Dunas. With spa facilities such as a sauna and hot tub, a tennis court, and three swimming pools, this hotel is the perfect place to unwind after a long journey traveling to Huacachina. You will find both international and traditional cuisines at the on-site restaurant, including one of the best pisco sours in the area. Relax on a sun lounger by the pool, or rent horses to go explore the desert. You will not run out of things to do in this beautiful resort.
Things to Do in Huacachina
Let’s dive in to how to spend 24 hours in this enchanting oasis town:
We left from Lima early in the morning and stopped in Paracas for a boat tour of the Paracas National Reserve before arriving in Huacachina in the early afternoon. Check out our full 2-week itinerary for Peru in our other blog post! Our main point of interest in visiting the oasis was for the combined dune buggy and sandboarding tours over the massive sand dunes in the desert surrounding the town. We booked the tour with Peru Hop, the company we used for transportation on most of our itinerary in Peru. You can see our honest review of the service here. The cost for this excursion was only $15 and worth every penny. We had so much fun, and I highly recommend it if you are visiting Huacachina.
We got off the bus and checked into our hostel, Banana’s Adventure. See below for our other recommendations in the area, but we chose Banana’s Adventure due to its affordability, accommodation options, and activities offered during our stay. At the designated time, our group walked from the departure point in town and up the nearby hill to find dozens of dune buggies waiting for us. It didn’t take long to be assigned to a driver and found a seat in the vehicle. These rugged off-road vehicles are specially designed to navigate the steep sand dunes, providing an exciting and adrenaline pumping ride. As the dune buggy climbs up and down the massive sand dunes, passengers are treated to a thrilling rollercoaster-like experience known as “dune bashing”. The skilled drivers maneuver the vehicles over the shifting sand, tackling steep inclines and exhilarating desert with ease.
Along the way, you will be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape. The rolling sand dunes stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a stunning backdrop for your sandboarding adventure. Once you’ve reached a suitable spot - the real fun begins. Your guide will provide you with a sand board, a board similar to a snowboard, but specifically designed for gliding over sand dunes. They will also give you tips on proper techniques and safety instructions. With a rush of adrenaline, you will launch yourself down the steep slopes of the sand dunes, feeling the wind in your hair as you carve through the sand. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sandboarder, the thrill of zooming down the dunes is an unforgettable experience.
Don’t forget to capture the moment! Many tour operators offer opportunities to take photos and videos of your sandboarding adventure against the backdrop of the stunning desert scenery. It’s a great way to preserve memories of your exhilarating experience. We even got to take a picture standing on top of the dune buggy! As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, you will have the chance to sandboard down the dunes amidst the golden glow of twilight. After we were all finished with sandboarding, our driver parked the vehicle at the top of one of the massive dunes and allowed us to take in the gorgeous sunsets. It was one of the most surreal sunsets of my life, taking in the vibrant colors and serene atmosphere with all of our fellow travelers.
The tour concludes with a return journey back through the desert to Huacachina, giving us the opportunity to spend the evening relaxing and exploring the picturesque oasis town. We decided to take a walk around the Oasis, which takes about 20-30 minutes to complete one lap. We walked through some of the charming shops and picked up a small souvenir from our visit. We decided to have dinner at Wild Olive Trattoria, one of the most popular restaurants in the area. The menu features fresh, homemade Italian fare as well as a variety of seafood dishes. Being in the touristy area of Huacachina, the prices are slightly elevated compared to what you would find in most cities in Peru, but we still found them to be quite reasonable.
We ended the evening back at the hostel, Banana’s Adventure, where we grabbed a pisco sour at the bar and chatted with some of the other travelers for the evening. The hostel had an incredibly friendly atmosphere, with plenty of comfortable seating to enjoy. The bar also offers a full menu, and is where breakfast is served in the morning. You can also take a dip in the pool or enjoy some of the nightly guided activities the hostel has to offer. After a long day of travel, we headed back to our dorm pretty early to rest up for the next leg of our trip.
The next morning, we enjoyed the breakfast included with our stay at Banana’s Adventure, which included a variety of breads and jams, fried or scrambled eggs, pancakes and crepes. We were also served fresh juice, coffee, and tea. Our Peru Hop bus to continue onto Arequipa was leaving at 1:00pm, so we took the time to take a few last laps around the oasis. I also recommend hiking up to the top of the dune early in the morning (before it gets too hot!) to see incredible views of the oasis from above. We thought 24 hours was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the oasis and do the sandboarding/dune buggy tour, but once we got there, we realized there were several other things we would have enjoyed with an extra day!
Have more time in Huacachina before continuing onto your next destination? Check out one of these guided tours to continue your adventure in the desert:
Magic Camping and Professional Sandskiing - Not many tour companies specialize in this unique experience. Enjoy a 4x4 dune buggy ride through the desert before experiencing professional instruction in sand skiing and sandboarding. End the day by camping in the desert! All equipment and roundtrip transfer are provided.
Full-Day Canyon of the Lost Tour - Depart from Ica and venture into the Ocucaje desert to see the scenic viewpoint at the canyon of the lost. Peer 150 meters into the depths of the canyon, see red headed vultures and prehistoric marine fossils below. Return to Ica in the afternoon and explore the city.
Experience and Tasting of Pisco and Peruvian Wine - Leave from Ica and head out to Hacienda Tacama, the first vineyard in Peru dating back to 1540. You will taste several different products made at the vineyard and learn about the history and process of making pisco.
Huacachina is the perfect place to spend a night when traveling between Lima to the north, and Arequipa to the south. I will be honest, this place is a tourist trap and not at all a likely place I tend to seek out during my travels. But when you accept Huacachina for what it is and all it has to offer, you find a truly unique and enjoyable experience unlike anywhere else in the world I have ever been.
Looking for even more ways to plan your perfect trip to Huacachina? Check out these top-rated experiences in the desert oasis!