Welcome to Huacachina

Imagine…. It’s 6pm and you’re sitting atop a giant wind-sculpted sand dune watching the sun set psychedelically over a landscape of golden yellows and rusty reds. Two hundred meters below you lies a dreamy desert lagoon ringed by exotic palm trees, and furnished with a clutch of rustic yet suitably elegant hotels. It took you an exhausting 20 minutes to climb up to this lofty vantage point, but with a well-waxed sandboard wedged beneath your belly you’ll be down in less than one.

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While not as famous as Nazca to the south, Huacachina, an aesthetically perfect desert oasis 4km west of Ica, is a firmly established stopover on Southern Peru’s well-trampled Gringo Trail, and with good reason. Sandboarding, dune-buggie rides and good-old romantic idling are the orders of the day here. This is backpacker central, so expect plenty of late-night parties and international flavors. Many people just make it here for a quick overnight and dune trip the next day, but a few days of relaxed strolls and dune climbs may just channel your inner chi.

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Top experiences in Huacachina

Travel guides

Starting at $33.79

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Huacachina activities

$119 Day Trips & Excursions

Paracas, Huacachina and Ballestas Islands Tour from Lima

Take a speedboat out to the Ballestas Islands to see penguins and sea lions in their natural habitat in Paracas.Dune Buggy up and Sandboard down the biggest sand dunes at the only desert oasis in South America in Huacachina.Free hotel/hostel pickup and drop-off in Lima. Avoid ripoffs and unsafe taxis.Full Day: Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Lima5:15am - 6:00am:Pick up at your hotel or hostel in Lima.Note: Please click the link below 'View additional info' to see exact departure time depending on your location.06:00am – 10:00amDirect bus to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea.10:00am – 12:00pm2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas are a smaller version of the Galapagos, but just as great, where you’ll see sea lions, penguins and lots of birds all in their natural habitat.13:00pm – 14:15pmDirect bus from Paracas to Huacachina, a small natural oasis located in the Ica desert.16:00pm – 18:00pm2 hours of dune buggying and sandboarding – Ride the dune buggies up and sandboard down the biggest dunes in South America. A once in a lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America.18:30pm – 23:45pmBus back to Lima. You will be dropped off at your hotel/hostel.
$34 Outdoor Activities

Huacachina Sand Buggy and Sand Boarding Experience

Welcome to the quaint, quiet and cute oasis of Huacachina with its tranquil lagoon and backdrop of amazing sand dunes anywhere you turn to look. Get ready to cruise to the tops of 500-meter (1,640-foot) high sand dunes and go rocketing down the slopes in the sand buggy. A roller coaster ride of 360's, sharp turns and steep hills will get your adrenaline pumping before you take your first shot at sand boarding. Strap yourself in tightly, throw your hands in the air and scream away as you are carried over sand dunes in the middle of the expansive desert. You will have the opportunity to sandboard on 3-4 different dunes so you can try your luck. You will take thrilling rides on a basic sandboard by laying face first on the board and letting yourself fly down the dune to see how far (and fast) you can go. Cheer on your mates and don't let anyone shy away from this unforgettable experience. Lastly, you will admire the breathtaking sunset over the vast desert landscape and have the chance to take photos in the golden twilight before racing back to Huacachina. (Experienced sand-boarders can choose to upgrade to a professional sand-board with boots and bindings for an extra cost of $5 USD paid locally. Upgrades are subject to availability. To reserve, please contact us in advance with your shoe size. On the day of the tour, you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure for your fitting. For beginners the laying down option is recommend because it is much easier and lots of fun).
$118.75 Private & Custom Tours

Paracas to Huacachina Oasis Private Tour with Vineyard Visit

You will be picked up from your hotel in Paracas in private vehicle to drive towards to Ica city (1 hour drive). On this traditional tour to Huacachina, you will visit the best of this beautiful city, such as the traditional vineyards where you will have the opportunity to taste one of the traditional wine and the famous PISCO the national drink of Peru. At the bodegas you will learn more about the history and the process of Pisco. Later on you will visit the Cathedral of Senor de Luren, Main Square of Ica and the Regional Museum, an interesting building that houses the remains of the ancient cultures that developed on the southern coast such Paracas, Nazca, Chincha, Wari and others Inca culture. Afterwards we will drive southwest towards to Huacachina Oasis, a beautiful lagoon surrounded by palm tree and huge sand dunes with spectacular view of Ica Valley and desert. Here you will be able to climb the sand dunes and enjoy one of the ultimate tours in the desert, the famous dune buggy tours. You will then return to your hotel in Paracas. End of the service.
$353 Day Trips & Excursions

Nazca lines from ica

We will pick you up from your hotel in the city of Huacachina, having been coordinating a day before the timetable; We will take it to the aerodrome where we will prepare it and we will weigh it to place it in one of the planes, in which it will fly over the incredible desert Nazca of the place that houses more than 300 figures, but by the time of flight that we will have in bequeath to see 13 the figures , among them you will see: The Monkey, the Hummingbird, the Alcatraz, the dog, the parrot, the tree, the whale, etc. After having flown for 1 hour and 15 minutes, we will return to the airfield, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to our hotel.
$4038.42 Weddings & Honeymoons

Honeymoon in Peru

Day 1 - Lima  Pick up from airport and drop off in accommodation Program briefing with Travel Specialists  Day 2 - Lima Lima City Centre historical or gastronomical tourPick up and drop off included Day 3 - Huacachina  Pick up and drop off includedTransportation to Huacachina Oasis Spend the afternoon sand boarding on the Peruvian desert dunes with professional guides Day 4 - Ica Pick up and drop off includedWinery tour and tasting with sommelierTransport to Lima Pick up and drop off at the accommodation Day 5 - Puno Pick up and drop off includedFlight to Juliaca (Lake Titicaca, Puno) Transfer to accommodation  Day 6 - Puno  Guided tour of Uros & Taquile islandsPick up and drop off includedDay 7 - Cusco  Pick up and drop off includedFlight to Cusco Transfer to Hotel Day 8 - Cusco  Guided Cusco City TourPick up and drop off included Day 9 - Scared Valley  Guided tour of Sacred Valley of the Incas (Maras Salt Mines, Moray archeological site & Ollantaytambo ruins) Drop off to accommodation in Sacred Valley  Day 10 - Machu Picchu  Train to Aguas Calientes included Bus to Machu Picchu citadel included Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel Train to Cusco included Transfer to accommodation  Day 11 - Iquitos - Amazon Rainforest Pick up and drop off includedFlight to Iquitos - Amazon Rainforest Transfer to lodge LunchExplore Amazon Fauna and FloraDinner Day 12 - Iquitos - Amazon Rainforest Visit Monkey Island LunchAmazon river fishingAmazon night trek Dinner Day 13 - Iquitos - Amazon Rainforest / Lima Sunrise boat ride with birdwatching and pink dolphins spottingBreakfastAmazon trekLunch Transfer to airport Flight to Lima Transfer to accommodation  Day 14 - Lima Transfer to airportBreakfast included in all hotels Break, Lunch & Dinner included in Iquitos LodgeDomestic flights Included All guided tours & entrance tickets to sights includedAll transfers included
$250 Food, Wine & Nightlife

Ballestas, Winery & Huacachina Oasis

We will start early in the norming and drive South direction on the Panamerican highway. We are going to make some stops on the way to eat something.After three hours we are going to arrive to Paracas bay, where we are going to take a boat tour to Ballestas Islands, place full of birds, sea lions, dolphins, penguins, etc.After this we are going to drive to a small local winery to learn how is the process to make Pisco and do some tasting.We will continue our adventure visiting the Huacachina Oasis where we are going to have time for lunch and walk around, practice sand boarding (Additional cost) or just enjoy some time at the pool with some Pisco Sours.Then will drive back to Lima and to your hotel.Know before you go:Comfortable clothes and shoes, because this tour has a bit of walk.Flees for the boat ride to the Ballestas IslandSunblock, hat or cap to protect you from the sunLocal currency in case you want to buy any souvenir and lunch.Bottle of waterBathing suit if you want to jump to the swimming pool at restaurant in HuacachinaSnacks for the journey
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