Huacachina: what it is and how to visit Peru's desert oasis

Picture a small green lagoon, a ring of palm trees and a handful of hotels, all sitting at the bottom of a bowl of sand dunes so tall they block the horizon. That is Huacachina, the desert oasis on Peru's south coast, and it looks just as unreal in person as it does in photos.

It is also one of the easiest places in Peru to have a big day out: fast dune buggies, sandboarding, a sunset from the top of a dune and a cold drink by the water afterwards. Below you will find what the oasis is, how to reach it from Lima and how to fit it into the same trip as a flight over the Nazca Lines.

What is Huacachina and where is it?

Huacachina is a tiny village built around a natural lagoon in the Ica desert, about 5 km from the center of the city of Ica. It is roughly 300 km south of Lima along the Pan-American Highway, and about 150 km north of Nazca.

The village is small enough to walk around in 20 minutes. There is a promenade along the water, a few restaurants and cafés, hostels and quiet boutique hotels. Behind every building, the dunes start rising almost straight up.

The lagoon gets its water from underground sources, and over the years its level has dropped. Local authorities have worked to keep it topped up, so do not expect a swimming spot. Think of it as the green centerpiece of the view.

The legend of the lagoon

Every oasis needs a good story, and Huacachina has one. The local legend tells of a young princess who was bathing in a pool in the desert when she noticed a man watching her. She ran away in a hurry, leaving the water behind to become the lagoon. The cloak she was wearing fell as she fled and turned into the dunes.

Some versions say she never left and still lives in the lagoon as a mermaid. Locals will happily tell you their own take on it, so ask around.

Things to do in Huacachina

Most visitors come for the sand. The dunes around the oasis are some of the biggest on the Peruvian coast, and the whole area works like a giant natural playground.

Dune buggy ride

This is the headline act. Big open buggies with roll cages and seat belts race up the dunes and drop down the other side, and the driver knows exactly how much drama the group wants. It feels a lot like a roller coaster, only on sand.

Rides usually last about two hours and include several stops on the highest ridges for photos. If you get motion sickness easily, sit near the front and tell the driver before you start.

Sandboarding

Buggy tours normally include sandboarding on a few slopes of different heights. First timers can ride lying down on their stomach, head first, which is easier than it sounds and a lot of fun. If you snowboard or skateboard, try it standing up.

Keep your mouth closed on the way down (you will thank us later) and leave loose items in the buggy.

Sunset from the dunes

In the late afternoon the sand turns orange and the shadows stretch across the ridges. The sun sets around 6 pm most of the year, so afternoon buggy rides usually time their last stop for it.

If you prefer to go on foot, you can climb the dune right behind the lagoon. It is hard work in loose sand (count on 20 to 30 minutes), but the view over the oasis is worth every step.

The lagoon and the village

After the adrenaline, take it slow. Walk the promenade, rent a small paddle boat when they are available, or grab a fresh juice or a pisco sour at one of the cafés by the water. Ica is Peru's main pisco and wine region, so a visit to a local winery nearby makes an easy add-on.

Full Day

Nazca Lines Huacachina Day Trip

Pick-up in Lima, a flight over the Nazca and Palpa Lines from Pisco and a dune buggy ride in Huacachina, all in one day.

FromUS$ 560per person

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How to get to Huacachina from Lima

There is no airport in Huacachina itself, so the trip starts on the road. You have two main options.

By bus, on your own

1. Take a long-distance bus from Lima to Ica along the Pan-American Highway. The ride takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic leaving Lima.
2. From the bus station in Ica, take a taxi to Huacachina. It is a short ride of about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Spend at least one night so you can do the buggy ride in the afternoon and have the morning free for something else.

Buy bus tickets with a well known company and choose the upper or lower deck seats with more legroom. The coastal views south of Lima are part of the fun.

On a guided day trip

Short on time? A private day trip from Lima takes care of the driving, the timing and the activities. Our Nazca Lines + Huacachina Day Trip picks you up at your Lima hotel at around 5 am, drives you to Pisco Airport for the flight, then continues to Huacachina for the buggy ride and some free time at the lagoon. You are back at your hotel in Lima in the evening.

Combine Huacachina with a flight over the Nazca Lines

Huacachina and the Nazca Lines sit in the same desert region, so it would be a shame to visit one and skip the other. The famous geoglyphs, like the Hummingbird, the Monkey and the Spider, only really make sense from the air. If you want to know what you will see, read how many Nazca Lines there are and which ones stand out.

Here are the easiest ways to pair them:

• Staying in Huacachina or Ica? Take the Nazca Lines Flight from Ica Airport. We pick you up at your hotel, you fly for about an hour over the lines and you are back at the oasis in time for an afternoon buggy ride.
• Based in Paracas or Pisco? The flight from Pisco Airport also covers the Palpa Lines, and Huacachina is about an hour's drive away. Paracas has plenty to offer too, see our Paracas beaches guide.
• Starting and ending in Lima? The Nazca Lines + Huacachina Day Trip bundles transport, flight and dunes in one long day. If you only want the lines by road, look at the Nazca Lines Full Day Tour from Lima.

1 h

Nazca Lines Flight from Ica Airport

Hotel pick-up in Ica or Huacachina and about one hour over the Nazca Lines, back in time for the dunes.

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Practical tips for your visit

• Best time to go: Ica is sunny almost all year. December to March is the hottest stretch, while June to August brings cooler mornings and evenings. Our guide to the best time to visit Peru covers the rest of the country.
• What to wear: light clothes, closed shoes, a hat and a light jacket for the evening, since the desert cools down fast after sunset.
• Protect your gear: sand gets everywhere. A zip bag for your phone and camera is a good idea on the buggy.
• Fees: a small access fee to the dune area is usually charged. On our day trip, all entrance fees are included.
• Flying the same day: do the flight first and the buggy later. A light breakfast before flying helps, and the dunes are better in the afternoon anyway.

Fly over the lines in the morning, ride the dunes in the afternoon and watch the sun go down over the oasis. It is hard to beat as a day in the Peruvian desert.

Nazca Lines Flights