It is said that, according to local legend, Huacachina blossomed from the tears shed by a maiden from the nearby town of Tacara as she mourned the death of her lover. Contrary folklore tells the tale of an Incan Princess who, when wandering through the desert admiring her reflection, became startled and dropped her in the sand. It shattered upon impact with the shards of glass magically transforming into a pool of water. Whichever story you choose to believe, the end result is the same; the Princess was submerged in water and transformed into a mermaid. Some say that she remains in the watery depths and only emerges every full moon to continue crying her tears.
On those moonlit nights, sitting atop towering sand dunes and watching as the sun sets in a haze of orange and red above this palm-lined desert lagoon, it is easy to see the magical quality of Huacachina that inspired such tales. This picture-perfect desert oasis – South America’s only one – sits 4km west of Ica and a 5-hour drive south of Lima, surrounded by 200m high golden slopes and ringed by swaying palms.
The mystical qualities of Huacachina drew visitors here well into the 1940s when upper-class Peruvians would flock here through the desert from nearby Ica to take advantage of the healing powers that are thought to emanate from the blue waters of the town’s watery Centrepoint.
In more recent decades, this small town of fewer than 100 people has become a firm favourite with backpackers on South America’s gringo trail, who idle here to take advantage of the dune buggy rides, sandboarding adventures, and all-night parties.
How to Get to Huacachina
Sitting in the desert sand dunes two miles west of the city of Ica, Huacachina is perfectly placed on Peru’s backpacker trail between Lima and Nasca, with most travellers staying here en route to Cusco or Arequipa. Almost all journeys by public bus will require you to alight at Ica and catch a taxi or Collectivo for the short trip (around 15 minutes) to Huacachina.
Thanks to its location close to the Carretera Panamericana Sur, a journey from Lima to Ica clocks in at a relatively comfortable 5 hours. Buses from Lima run approximately every hour and with any long journey in Peru, I would recommend getting a ticket with luxury bus company Cruz del Sur than one of the cheaper options.
The 5-hour journey time means that Huacchina is a little too far from Lima for a day trip and would require an overnight stay in the Oasis itself or in the nearby tourist hotspots of Nasca, Pisco or Paracas. Some private transfers from Lima include brief sightseeing stops in these regions.
Not many travellers choose to take a direct route from Cusco to Huacachina, mostly due to the arduous 16 – 18 hour journey length. However, it is possible; Two Cruz del Sur buses make the trip each day from their Cusco terminal to Ica.
Rather than heading straight to Huacachina from Cusco, the well-trodden backpacker route normally includes a stop off in the stunning city of Arequipa. From Arequipa to Huacachina, expect a 12 hour overnight journey aboard one of Cruz del Sur’s 3 – 5 daily buses from from Arequipa’s Terrapuerto bus terminal. Again, you will need to arrange a taxi from Ica to Huacachina.
TRAVELLING TO HUACACHINA WITH PERU HOP
Peru Hop offers a hop-on, hop-off bus service for travellers that cover the South of Peru and all of the most popular tourist destinations; Puno, Cusco, Arequipa, Paracas, Nazca, Huacachina and Lima. Their travel method allows you to stay in each destination for as long as you would like and travel the country at your own pace. Almost all the long-distance travelling that I did in Peru was with Peru Hop as I found this the simplest way to see all the sights that I had on my hit list.
Peru Hop is also the only service that travels directly to Huacachina without first stopping in Ica.
Getting Around Huacachina
Huacachina is tiny, made up of just a few streets surrounding a central lake. As such, it can be explored easily on foot in no time at all. The nearest city is Ica, just a couple of miles away and can be easily reached by private taxi.
Where to Stay in Huacachina
A firm favourite on Peru’s gringo trail, accommodation in Huacachina is generally geared towards the backpacking crowd that is drawn here by the incredible dunes and adrenaline-packed tours. For boutique hotels and more luxurious options, you will need to head to nearby Ica, however, there are plenty of good hostels in town and as of recently, a few mid-range options.
Hostel
Banana's Adventure Hostel
Banana’s Adventure’s main draw is that it offers a social hostel experience without being a downright hedonistic party hostel. Huacachina’s most popular accommodation has a fantastic central pool and a tiki bar nestled in the heart of the hostel grounds where you can relax with a Pisco sour or steaming mug of hot chocolate on those crisp desert nights.
Their on-site restaurant is one of the best dining spots in town with a hearty breakfast included in the room rate.
Hotel
Hotel El Huacachinero
If hostels and shared dorm rooms aren’t your style, the 3-star Hotel El Huacachinero ‘resort’ has 26 private rooms and its own palm-lined pool where you can relax after an adventure-filled day of surfing the nearby dunes.
Glamping
Ecocamp Huacachina
Want to forgo a stuffy hotel room in favour of camping in the dunes beneath the stars? Although Ecocamp Huacachina (formerly Desert Nights Ecocamp) is a far cry from a bohemian Bedouin desert camp, its luxurious tents are the closest you will find in Huacachina and its lovely pool more than makes up for it being smack bang in the middle of town rather than out in the sandy wilderness. There is also a restaurant, bar and shared kitchen on site.
The Best Things to do in Huacachina
It’s Huacachina’s natural beauty and unique setting amongst towering sandy knolls that make it a must-visit destination. Relaxing beneath the palm trees beside the town’s central lagoon or watching the mesmerising sunset from the top of the tallest dunes are a good respite after spending time in some of Peru’s more hectic destinations but it is also a wonderful destination for thrill-seekers.
Take an Adrenaline-Filled Dune Buggy Ride
Surf the Dunes on a Sandboard
Although most dune buggy tours give you the opportunity to slide down the dunes on a sandboard, it’s only a short, fleeting experience and more than likely, they will only allow you to plummet down headfirst while laying on your stomach. Specialist sandboarding tours are available that last around two hours, allowing you to try your hand at sand-skiing, sledging, or actually standing up on the board as you surf the dunes.
Sample Pisco & Peruvian Wine at a Local Vineyard
Just a short distance from Huacachina, the city of Ica is famous for its Pisco – the national drink of Peru – and as home to some of the nation’s best vineyards. Most winery tours from Huacachina take in two to three vineyards; firstly, a small, family-run winery where Pisco and red wine is still produced in the traditional way, using clay jars to ferment the crushed grapes, and a more modern winery that produces pisco and red wine on an industrial scale. Tours typically last half a day and include the opportunity to taste the wine.
Where to Eat & Drink in Huacachina
Being a small village, Huacachina doesn’t have the variety or range of restaurants of Peru’s major cities but there are enough to cater to the backpacker crowd that flocks here. Most menus are made up of typical international fare but look hard enough and you’ll find some cheap, decent local cuisine.
Nightlife in Huacachina is fairly limited, but those looking for a party will find one in the local hostels.
Huacafuckingchina
It’s not just the eye-catching name that makes Huacafuckingchina a local institution; this spot is incredibly popular with backpackers due to its decent food and cheap drinks. While it may seem like a chilled cafe bar during the day, things are turned up a notch come evening time when the music starts pumping and the alcohol starts flowing.
Where: Balneario de, Av. Ángela Perotti
When: Weds to Mon 12.30pm – 10.30pm
Nuna Cocina Bar
A quiet and subdued local spot offering an affordable Peruvian menú del día as well as a good selection of chifa options. Make sure to stop by for an afternoon cocktail or two.
Where: Balneario de Huacachina
When: Daily 12pm – 10pm
Desert Nights
Sitting atop the popular hostel of the same name, Desert nights offers a fairly standard menu of pizza, burgers and great Peruvian coffee but the main reason to come here is that it’s a great spot for meeting other travellers and the roof terrace offers spectacular views.
Where: Huacachina 139
When: Daily 8am – 8pm
Casa de Bamboo
One of the cutest dining spots in town, La Casa de Bamboo offers delicious vegan and vegetarian takes on Peruvian cuisine as well as more typical home comforts.
Where: Av. Ángela Perotti
FAQs about Huacachina
Is Huacachina Safe?
Being a small town of just 100 residents that relies heavily on tourism, Huacachina is safe compared to other destinations in Peru provided that you take all the usual precautions. The only thing to look out for is inflated prices, particularly on local tours, and always pre-agree a taxi fee when travelling between Ica and Huacachina.
How Long Should You Spend in Huacachina?
Huacachina is a tiny desert Oasis made up of just a few streets surrounding the central lagoon and as such, there isn’t a great deal to see or do here. While doing a day trip from either Paracas or Ica will give you enough time to see the town and do a dune buggy/sandboarding tour, I recommend staying here overnight so that you can experience the sunset from the top of the towering dunes.
When is the Best Time to Visit Huacachina?
In this region of Peru, close to the Pacific coast, the dry season falls between December and March. These are also the warmest months when temperatures range from 20 – 30°C. Rainfall shouldn’t be much of an issue in Huacachina as only around 7mm falls throughout the year. I recommend visiting in December when the temperature sits at a comfortable 20 – 25°C.
Are There Any ATMs in Huacachina?
There is just one ATM in Huacachina and it is often out of service or has no available cash. Most hostels, cafes and restaurants in the town accept card payments but this service also occasionally fails. I recommend taking a good amount of cash with you to Huacachina to avoid having to travel to Ica to access a bank.
One Response
Super cool and quirky… My kind of place. You make me wanna go there, David. Thanks & Peace.