Huacachina is a small oasis located in southwest Peru full of giant sand dunes, palm trees and pisco vineyards. It’s also situated next to Ica, the biggest drug trafficking city in Peru. We decided to stop here after chatting with an Aussie in Colombia who said Huacachina was a MUST if traveling through Peru. We arrived at night after a four hour bus ride from Lima unaware that we’d wake up in such bliss. An incredible sunny, hot transition coming from gloomy Lima.
After we find a hostel we ask the locals for the tastiest non-tourist restaurant in town. They send us here…
We wound up eating here EVERY lunch and dinner for 4 days- CHEAP, huge portions, and damn good.
Sandboarding is the biggest attraction in Huacachina, and it’s AMAZING. Talk about a rush of adrenaline- dune buggies, sliding down HIGH STEEP sand dunes, SUPER fast.
I was scared shitless before taking on the first dune, they are seriously high!!!! But I sucked it up and 15 seconds later at the bottom of the hill I couldn’t of felt more alive. Rock on, Huacachina.
Another big attraction is pisco tours. You pay a taxi driver 15 soles ($5 US) and he drives you to three different vineyards, bodegas, entrance & tours are free, along with the never ending pisco samples.
Above is a massive grape crusher. Below are the barrels that are used to store pisco.
All in all, Huacachina was quite memorable. In between activities we lounged by the pool & lagoon, ate ice cream, and drank fizzy pisco sours.
Thanks, Huacachina.
