By air
Lima (LIM), ~4.5 h by road
South America · Peru
Huacachina, Peru
An oasis among the dunes
Getting there
Best time to visit
All year — dry desert weather
Don't miss
The lagoon
The dunes
The Ica valley vineyards
The Paracas reserve
Things to do
Dune buggies and sandboarding
Sunset on the dunes
Pisco tastings
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Gatol fotografia from La Paz, Bolivia · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Sun protection, bags that keep out sand
A quieter corner
The pisco vineyards of the Ica valley
Questions travellers ask
Is there a best season for Huacachina?
Not really — it's dry desert weather all year.
What is there to do in Huacachina?
Ride a dune buggy, go sandboarding and stay for sunset on the dunes. Visit the lagoon, and make a trip to the Paracas reserve.
Can I go pisco tasting near Huacachina?
Yes — the pisco vineyards of the Ica valley are the hidden gem. Finish with a pisco sour and some of Ica's sweets.
How far is Huacachina from Lima?
About 4.5 h by road from Lima (LIM). Pack sun protection and bags that keep out sand.
About Huacachina
- Desert
- Lakeside
Where it is
Huacachina is a tiny village built around a natural oasis lagoon among tall sand dunes about 5 km from the city of Ica, in the Ica region of southern Peru, some 300 km south of Lima.
History
Local legend says the lagoon was once a princess's mirror, dropped as she fled a hunter. Huacachina became a resort in the 20th century for its water and mud, believed to ease ailments such as arthritis, and when the lagoon began to shrink, local businesses started pumping water into it in 2015.
People
Only about 100 people live in Huacachina itself, most running hostels, restaurants and buggy tours, and Spanish is spoken. The city of Ica next door is known for its grapes, wine and pisco, celebrated each March at the Festival de la Vendimia.
Known for
- Sandboarding on the dunes
- Dune buggy rides
- Sunset from the dune tops
- Pisco bodegas in the Ica valley
- The palm-fringed oasis lagoon
Did you know?
The desert around the oasis was once sea floor, and the Ica region has yielded fossils of ancient whales and of giant penguins such as Icadyptes, which stood about 1.5 m tall some 36 million years ago.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.