12 Epic Things to do in Huacachina: Peru’s Desert Oasis

Huacachina is a small town centred around a beautiful palm tree lined lagoon within the Ica Desert. With a backdrop of towering dunes, this desert oasis is the perfect place for a thrilling adventure or to just relax with a cocktail and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. 

For decades, Huacachina has been one of Peru’s most popular spots for tourists. Backpackers are drawn here from all around the world to experience the adrenaline of sandboarding on dunes that can reach heights of up to 500 metres! 

Sandboarding and riding in a buggy across the dunes were certainly the two main things to do in Huacachina that influenced our visit. 

However, even if you aren’t a thrill-seeker, there are so many alternative activities that make Huacachina worth the trip. Picture a day relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand, enjoying views of the sandy dunes, after having spent the morning tasting some of Peru’s finest Pisco and wine. Sounds like the perfect day to us! 

Due to its proximity to Ica and even Lima, Huacachina is often visited on a day trip. However, through this guide we hope to convince you that there’s so many amazing things to do here it’s definitely worth staying for a few days. 

In this blog we’ll cover the best things to do in Huacachina, things to know before you go, best time to visit, how to get there, how long to stay, where to stay and more! Loaded with all this information, you’ll be able to plan the perfect trip to Peru’s desert oasis.  

What to do in Huacachina

1. Ride in a dune buggy across the desert

If you’re reading this, no doubt you’ve already heard about the dune buggying experience in Huacachina. It’s one of the most popular things to do here, and for good reason! 

If you’re an adrenaline-seeker looking for your next thrill, this is the activity for you. When we say this is the most fun we had during our time in Peru, we aren’t kidding. Once you’re strapped in, your experienced driver will race up and down the dunes, taking you on an epic ride through the desert that makes you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster. 

Most dune buggy tours will also include sandboarding at a few different spots in the desert. As the tours generally leave in the afternoon, you’ll also get to watch the sunset whilst on top of the dunes, which adds the most magical end to the experience. 

Dune buggy and sandboarding tours can be easily booked at a number of places in Huacachina town, at your hostel or online. As there are plenty of spots, it’s almost impossible not to secure a space either the day before, or even the morning of the day you decide to go.

Tours typically leave at 4pm and cost around S/50 ($13). They include the dune buggy drive and three sandboarding rides down two different dunes. This doesn’t include the S/3.60 ($1) national park entrance fee. 

We recommend taking some sunglasses and a buff or face covering to protect you from the sand. This will make your experience much more comfortable.  

2. Go sandboarding or skiing down the dunes 

Coupled with dune buggying, sandboarding is one of the main reasons that Huacachina is so popular. 

There are multiple ways you can enjoy sandboarding. We opted to lay down on our bellies on top of the board and race down this way. 

It can feel a bit scary when you’re standing at the top looking down at the dune you’re about to hurl yourself off, but it’s important to know that you’re in complete control of your speed. The guides do a short introduction on how to use your feet to slow down (or go faster if you wish) so you’ll be perfectly safe. 

If you’re experienced in snowboarding or skiing, you might want to test your skills on the dunes instead of the snow. If you decide to sandboard standing up or sand ski, you’ll need to make sure that you book a tour that specifically offers this. 

As we mentioned above, you can book a dune buggy tour that includes sandboarding. They usually leave at 4pm daily and cost around S/50 ($13), excluding the national park entrance fee of S/3.60 ($1).

Alternatively, if you’d like to have unlimited time out on the dunes, you can rent your own gear in Huacachina. The only potential downside to this is that you’ll have to walk back to the top of the dune each time you get to the bottom. 

There are a number of small rental shops around Huacachina that offer a variety of different equipment such as snowboards and boots, sandboards, and sand skis and boots. It’s possible to rent them by the hour or for the full day. 

3. Hire a pedal boat on the oasis

In the centre of Huacachina is a small man-made lake that brings life to the town. You’ll often hear it called the ‘oasis’. While it doesn’t quite look clean enough to swim in (though you can take a dip if you wish), a great way to get out on the lake is on a pedal boat. 

Boats can be rented along the lake’s shore and cost around S/35 ($10) per hour. As the lake is pretty small, you shouldn’t need more than an hour to have a pedal around. If you’d like to head out on a paddle board instead, you can also rent these in Huacachina.  

4. Hike to the top of the dunes to watch sunset 

What better way to watch the sunset than on top of a dune overlooking Huacachina. In our opinion, Peru has some of the best sunsets we’ve seen on all of our travels so this is definitely not one to miss. 

As there are dunes surrounding all of Huacachina, it’s easy to find a spot all to yourself. However, you’ll likely see a bunch of people all walking to the same point. There’s a popular short trail just past where all the dune buggies are parked. Take a right turn past the white water tank and hike to the top of the dune. 

If you’re an early riser, sunrise is equally as beautiful at the top of the dunes and you’ll likely see less people. 

If you haven’t yet paid the national park fee, you’ll need to pay S/3.60 ($1) to climb the dunes. 

5. Wander around Huacachina town 

Huacachina is a really small town which means it won’t take you long to explore it. However, we recommend taking a short walk around the oasis. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants where you can stop for a drink or bite to eat with a view. 

Huacachina is also known for having a lively nightlife and a great backpacker scene, so don’t forget to head out after dark. 

While wandering around, you can also shop for the best dune buggy and sandboarding tours if you haven’t booked already. 

6. Chill with a cocktail by the pool

Since Huacachina is located in the middle of a desert, it’s no surprise that it can get seriously hot during the day. To avoid the heat, the majority of tours either run first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon, which leaves you with free time at midday. 

To cool off, one of the best things to do in Huacachina is relax by a pool and enjoy a cocktail or fresh juice. 

If you’re staying in Huacachina, the majority of hostels and hotels will have a pool. We stayed at the Bananas Adventure Hostel which had a lovely pool and tiki bar. 

If you’re not staying overnight, or your accommodation doesn’t have a pool, you can head to Carola Lodge and use theirs for just S/20 ($5).

7. Get tipsy Pisco tasting in Ica  

Huacachina is a great base to visit some of Peru’s largest and best producers of Pisco.

Pisco is Peru’s national spirit and is a type of brandy distilled from fermented grape juice. You’ll find it all over Peru and it’s typically served with key lime juice that makes a popular cocktail named Pisco Sours (it’s seriously delicious!). 

In Huacachina’s closest city, Ica, you’ll find a number of vineyards that offer both pisco and wine tasting. 

We visited one named Pisco Nietto and here we got to try a variety of delicious Pisco. There is also a tasty restaurant on site where you can try lots of different local dishes such as the famous ceviche. 

If you just want to visit one of the vineyards like we did, it’s easy just to take a taxi from Huacachina. 

However, you can book tours from Huacachina that take you to multiple different vineyards and wineries around Ica to try many samples of pisco and wine. Be prepared to be a little tipsy when you return. These tours can be booked once you arrive or online in advance.     

8. Visit Tacama Winery 

Tacama is one of the most famous wineries in Peru as it’s the oldest in all of South America. For this reason, we believe it deserves a special mention.

Tacama was opened in 1540 and produces award winning wines and piscos. Alongside this, it has the most beautiful buildings and grounds which make it worth a visit just to grab some pictures.

There are several tours you can take here that include learning the history of Tacama and all about the wine and pisco making process, a tour of the beautiful buildings and grounds and of course wine and pisco tasting. These tours range from S/25 to S/75 ($6-$20), depending on the type of tour you pick.

9. Glamp under the stars

If you are looking for a unique stay in the desert, away from the lively oasis town of Huacachina, why not spend a night glamping under the stars.

A beautiful place to stay is Duna Camp. A night here will set you back S/1,459 ($390) for a 2 person luxury glamping tent. You’ll get the full desert experience here as the lack of light pollution allows you to witness the most beautiful starry night sky. You can also roast marshmallows by a campfire, dine under the stars and enjoy some wine and champagne. 

Alternatively, Viator offers an incredible ‘Glamping in the Huacachina Desert’ tour. This includes dune buggying and sandboarding, a visit to Huacachina Oasis and sunset on the dunes. After an exciting day you’ll head to Duna Camp where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner prepared for you, warm up around the bonfire and stay in one of their luxury glamping tents. This costs S/860 ($230) per person. 

10. Go Paragliding

If dune buggying and sandboarding didn’t feed your appetite for an adrenaline rush, you can also enjoy Huacachina from a different perspective and go paragliding. 

Most tours will include transportation, a 10+ minute tandem flight over Huacachina and the desert and an unedited video of your flight. You can book online here for $130 or shop around for the best price once you reach Huacachina.

11. Enjoy a day trip to Paracas

If you’re looking for the perfect day trip from Huacachina, why not visit the little fishing village of Paracas. 

This little beach town is known for its rugged, unique coastline in Paracas National Reserve, as well as being home to the ‘Poor Man’s Galapagos’.  

You can definitely see most of Paracas in one day, but if you have the extra time we’d really recommend spending a few nights here too. 

12. Boat Tour to the Islas Ballestas 

As we mentioned above, a great day trip from Huacachina is to visit Paracas. Just 24 km from the shore of Paracas, you’ll find a group of small islands called the Islas Ballestas. 

These islands are often named the ‘Poor Man’s Galapagos’ as you can see a range of diverse wildlife here including sea lions, Humboldt penguins, Peruvian boobies, cormorants and a variety of other sea birds. 

Boat tours leave from Paracas at 8 am and 10 am each day. However, we recommend arriving for the earlier boat departures as the wind can pick up later in the day and cause the sea to be too rough for the boats to reach the islands. 

If you visit between July and October, you might even spot humpback whales as they migrate past. 

For more information on Paracas and the Islas Ballestas, you can read our complete guide here.   

Best time to visit Huacachina

The weather in Huacachina remains dry and sunny all year round, so there really is no ‘bad’ time to visit.

However, we recommend visiting in Peru’s winter (and dry season) between May and September. Temperatures at this time of year are cooler and more bearable. 

We visited during this period and had beautiful clear blue skies and warm temperatures throughout the day. However as the day turned to night, the temperatures got much cooler which allowed for a very comfortable sleep. 

To avoid the crowds, make sure not to visit in the high season between June and August.

How long should you stay in Huacachina?

We recommend staying in Huacachina for 2 days. This will give you time to enjoy all the adventurous activities on offer, as well as some down time to chill by the oasis and head pisco or wine tasting. 

Many people just visit Huacachina on a day tour. This is a good option if you’re short on time and want to try out dune buggying and sandboarding. However, if you do have the extra day to spare, we really recommend staying for a few nights to really enjoy everything Huacachina has to offer. 

Things to know before visiting Huacachina

• Bring enough cash: There is just one ATM in Huacachina. It doesn’t always work and if it does it charges a crazy fee. Therefore, we recommend bringing enough cash to last for your stay so that you don’t have to make the trip back to Ica to make a withdrawal. When withdrawing money in Peru, we advise using the Banco de la Nación (MultiRed) ATMs as they don’t charge fees.

• Bring sunglasses and a buff: To keep the sand out of your face, we really recommend packing sunglasses and a buff for the dune buggy and sandboarding tours.

• Pack plenty of sunscreen: Huacachina is hot and sunny all year round so make sure to bring sunscreen with a high SPF.

• Don’t forget a jumper/sweater: Even though you’re in the desert, the temperatures drop a lot at night, particularly in the winter. Don’t forget to pack some warmer layers to keep cosy. 

How to get to Huacachina

By Bus

Ica is the closest city, acting as a gateway to Huacachina. Therefore, wherever you’re travelling from you’ll need to make your way to Ica. Once in Ica, take a short taxi to Huacachina costing no more than S/10 ($2.50).

To get to Ica from Lima you have two options. PeruBus is the cheapest company to travel with. Buses leave from ‘Terminal de Llegadas‘ to Ica. The first bus leaves at 4 am and the last at 12pm. They leave frequently throughout the day (at least once an hour) and it costs around S/60 ($16) per person.

Alternatively you can take the bus with Cruz del Sur from ‘Transport Cruz del Sur‘ bus station. Prices are slightly more expensive, between S/65 and S/80 ($17-$21), but the buses are even more frequent. The first bus leaves at 2 am and the last at 11:30 pm.

If you’re travelling from Arequipa, the journey to Ica takes approximately 13 hours and costs around S/115 ($31). You can catch a bus from the terminal named ‘Terminal Terrestre de Arequipa’ on google maps. You can travel with Cruz del Sur on a night bus. Buses leave between 12 pm and 10:15 pm.

Cusco to Ica takes 17 hours so this is a journey that you’ll need to do by night bus also. You can travel with either Civa or Cruz del Sur. Prices range from S/85 to S/180 ($23-$48) depending on whether you choose a budget or more comfortable bus and your seat type. Buses leave between 1:30 pm and 5 pm from Terminal Terrestre de Cusco.

Buses can be booked once at the terminal but if you want to search up bus routes or book in advance, we recommend using BusBud.

By Tour

If you plan to just visit on a day trip from Lima, taking a tour is the most convenient option. Many day trips include the Islas Ballestas, Pisco tasting, dune buggying and sandboarding. It’s a very long and rushed day but it would definitely be good fun and it’s perfect if you’re really short on time. 

Many tour companies offer this in Lima or you can book online here. 

You can also book tours from Ica or Paracas but as you’re so close to Huacachina you may as well visit yourself and have the freedom to explore as you wish. 

Where to stay in Huacachina

• Budget Option: Viajero Kokopelli Huacachina Hostel – This hostel is located in the centre of Huacachina and provides free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool with dune views, a bar, and a social games room. You can book both dorms and private rooms here which cost between S/45 and S/90 ($12-$24) per night.

• Mid-range Option: Banana’s Adventure – We opted to stay in Banana’s Adventure and we definitely recommend it. It has an outdoor pool, tiki bar, restaurant and a rooftop terrace with 360° views over Huacachina and the desert. You can also book tours with Banana hostel. It costs around S/80 ($22) per night to stay here.

• Luxury Option: Duna Camp Huacachina – If you’re in the mood for some luxury glamping under the stars and roasting marshmallows by the fire, this is the perfect place to stay. It’s a little outside Huacachina so offers the perfect, relaxing getaway. A luxury tent here costs around S/1,459 ($390) per night for 2 people.

Final Thoughts: Things to do in Huacachina

Whether you are backpacking Peru for months or just visiting on vacation, we really recommend adding Huacachina to your itinerary. This unique oasis town in the middle of the desert has something for everyone. Enjoy the thrill of dune buggying and sandboarding across the desert or spend your time here relaxing by the pool and tasting the best Pisco and wine that Peru has to offer.

We hope that this guide has given you everything you need to plan the perfect trip to Huacachina. As always, if there are any questions we haven’t answered feel free to send us an email, we’re always happy to help!

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